Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement agents cited a Larose resident for alleged commercial crab violations on Feb. 17 in Jefferson Parish.

The agents cited Tuan Nguyen, 56, for violating abandoned crab trap removal regulations.

Agents were on Bayou Rigolettes patrolling a closed area to commercial crab fishing.  The agents identified numerous recently baited crab traps with unique identification corks upon the south side of the bayou near Harvey Cut.  Agents documented that the traps contained Louisiana blue crab with Nguyen’s commercial identification number affixed to the cages.

Agents contacted Nguyen at his residence in Larose where he admitted to fishing and baiting the crab traps on Feb. 16.

Violating abandoned crab trap removal regulations brings a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.  Nguyen was ordered to remove all crab traps from the closed area within the Barataria Basin or forfeit his traps during program removal.

The Barataria Basin consists of an area south of Lafitte and is closed to commercial crab fishing from Feb. 7 through Feb. 20.

The Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program was initiated in 2004 to address the removal of derelict and abandoned crab traps.  Derelict traps increase ghost-fishing mortality of blue crabs and other species captured incidentally, interfere with other commercial fishing gear operations, and create navigation hazards.

Agents involved in this case are Sgt. Kyle Wagner, Sgt. Stephen Rhodes, Corporal Gary Pierce, and Senior Agent Richard Bean.  The case will be forwarded to the Jefferson 2nd Parish Courthouse in Gretna for prosecution.