Agents seized these oysters that were illegally caught and returned them to the water.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited a Port Sulphur man for alleged oyster violations on January 23 in Plaquemines Parish.
Agents cited Jeremiah Phillips, 40, of Port Sulphur, for taking oysters in a polluted area, taking oysters from a private lease, failing have written permission for harvest, angling without basic fishing and saltwater licenses, and failure to comply with civil restitution requirements.
Agents were on patrol in the area of Grand Bayou and observed a vessel with only Philips on board actively gathering oysters by hand in a known polluted area closed by Department of Health. Agents also determined that Phillips did not have written permission from the lease holder to remove the oysters.
Phillips also did not possess basic fishing or saltwater licenses. Agents also confirmed that Phillips’ licenses are currently revoked due to unpaid civil restitution he owes for a case in 2019.
This is Phillips second offense for angling without basic fishing and saltwater licenses, third offense for unlawfully removing oysters from a private lease, second offense for no written permission, and second offense for harvesting oysters in a polluted area.
Second offense of harvesting oysters from an unapproved area carries up to a $950 fine and 120 days in jail and the court shall require the offender to harvest oysters only from a vessel that employs a vessel monitoring system for three years. Third offense of unlawfully removing oysters from a private lease brings up to a $950 fine and 120 days in jail and the court shall require the offender to only harvest oysters from a vessel that employs a vessel monitoring system for 10 years.
Second offense of failing to have written permission carries up to a $950 fine and 120 days in jail. Angling without a basic fishing or saltwater license carries up to a $50 fine and up to 15 days in jail.
Agents seized one sack of oysters and returned them to the proper lease.
The case will be forwarded to District Attorney Charles Ballay for prosecution. Case agents are Lt. Adam Young and Corporal Josh Laviolette.