Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries cited a Houma man for alleged shrimping violations on Nov. 9 in Terrebonne Parish.
Agents cited Dwayne T. Hotard, 44, for illegally taking commercial fish, taking commercial fish without a vessel license, blocking the passage of fish, over the limit of shrimp on a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and being on a WMA after hours.
Around 5:15 p.m. on Nov. 9, agents received a complaint about a net that was stretched across a flood control structure off of Point Farm Road on the Pointe-aux-Chenes WMA. Agents arrived on scene around 7 p.m. and found a vessel being operated by Hotard fishing a net that was propped up across the flood control structure.
Agents found Hotard in possession of 329 pounds of shrimp. Agents seized the shrimp and sold them to the highest bidder and also seized the vessel on a department seizure order.
Shrimping on the Pointe-aux-Chenes WMA is limited to 25 pounds per boat per day during an open inside waters shrimping season.
Taking commercial fish illegally carries a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Taking commercial fish without a vessel license and blocking the passage of fish each brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail. Being on a WMA after hours and over the limit of shrimp on a WMA each bring a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail.
Sgt. Thomas Dewitt, Corporal Dean Aucoin and Senior Agent Stephen Rhodes are participating in the case.