Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited two subjects for alleged closed season shrimping violations on May 4 in Plaquemines Parish.
Agents cited Marvin Smith, 58, of Venice, and Etienne Pellegal III, 56, of Boothville, for using skimmers to harvest shrimp during a closed shrimp season.
Agents observed the men actively shrimping in the Yellow Cotton Bay area around 11:21 a.m. on May 4. The Louisiana spring inshore shrimp season was currently closed at the time of the stop.
Agents seized 1,291 pounds of shrimp and sold them at the dock for the highest bid.
Using skimmers during a closed shrimp season carries a fine up to $950 and up to 120 days in jail. Additionally, if convicted the men could be sentenced to harvest shrimp only from a vessel with an approved vessel monitoring system monitored by LDWF.
Agents participating in the case are Sgt. Jason Gernados, Senior Agent William Bartlett, Agent Jonathan Boudreaux and Agent Anthony Corner.