Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited six men for alleged illegal shrimping on March 17 in St. Bernard Parish.
Agents cited, William Byrd, 42, Jobie Nelson, 38, Jack Harmon, 39, Joseph Nelson, 40, all of Grand Bay Ala., Derek Bateman, 29, of Coden, Ala., and Joshua Sprinkle, 30, of Irvington, Ala., for taking shrimp in state waters during a closed season.
Agents observed the six men onboard two separate vessels actively trawling for shrimp inside state waters ten miles inside the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet. Agents boarded the vessels and found harvested shrimp on board as well as shrimp in the trawls. Agents seized 1,450 pounds of shrimp onboard, which were subsequently sold at the dock.
Shrimping during a closed shrimp season brings a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. In addition to any and all other penalties, for the first conviction of shrimping during the closed season, the court may revoke or suspend the violator's trawl, skimmer, and butterfly gear licenses for one year from the date of the conviction. During such revocation or suspension, the violator may be present on a vessel harvesting or possessing shrimp or possessing a trawl, skimmer, or butterfly net, only if the vessel is equipped with and employs an operating vessel monitoring system which is accessible to LDWF. The court shall also sentence the violator to perform 40 hours of community service.
Agents participating in the case are Lt. David Nunez, Sgts Mike Garrity, and Keith Francis, Senior Agents Richard Clark, Travis Bartlett, Kyle Haydel, Jason Gernados and Blaine Wagner.