Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents cited four subjects for alleged oyster violations on Sept. 4 in Lafourche Parish.
Agents cited Micky J. Picou, 35, Rusty J. Authement, 29, both from Montegut; and Steve Leboeuf, 57, and Wiley J. Lebouef, 66, both from Chauvin; for taking oysters from a polluted area.
Agents were responding to an Operation Game Thief complaint of illegal oyster harvesters in polluted waters east of Tidewater Canal.
Agents located the subjects in the morning harvesting oysters from a polluted area. Agents seized 13 sacks of oysters and returned them to the water. Agents also seized the vessel and dredges on a department seizure order.
Taking oysters from a polluted area brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. The men could also have their oyster harvester licenses revoked by the department for up to one year. The violators could also be sentenced to perform 40 hours of community service and only be allowed to harvest oysters from a vessel with a vessel monitoring device for up to one year.
Agents participating in the case are Lt. Joseph Arnaud and Senior Agent Richard Bean.