Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited three men for alleged oyster violations on June 27 in Plaquemines Parish.

Agents cited Long Nguyen, 68, of Port Sulphur, Wayne P. Williams, 57, of Empire, and Trung Do, 54, of Buras, for unlawfully taking oysters off a private lease and failing to have written permission.  Nguyen was also cited for a logbook violation.

Agents were on patrol around Grand Bayou located near Buras responding to theft complaints from local leaseholders when they witnessed three occupants in a 24-foot skiff harvesting oysters by hand.

Agents made contact with the occupants and found them harvesting oysters from another person’s private lease without written permission from the leaseholder.  Nguyen also failed to record proper harvest information on his Department of Health time and temperature log sheet.

Unlawfully taking oysters off a private lease and failing to have written permission carry up to a $950 fine and 120 days in jail for each offense.  The logbook violation brings a $25 fine and up to 10 days in jail.

The men could also have their oyster harvester licenses revoked by LDWF 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 that is equipped with a vessel monitoring device for up to one year.

Agents seized 25 sacks of oysters and returned them to the private lease water bottoms.  LDWF placed the vessel on seizure order until disposition of case in court.

Agents participating in the case are Sgt. Jason Gernados and Senior Agent Shea Schexnaydre.  The case will be forwarded to District Attorney Charles Ballay for prosecution.