Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents arrested two men for alleged oyster harvesting violations in Lafourche Parish on Oct. 18.
Agents arrested Frank Fernandez, 28, and Wilian Reyes, 19, both of Gretna, for taking oysters from a polluted area. Fernandez was also cited for violation of the sanitation code, improper boat numbers and failing to comply with the boating safety education requirement.
Agents received information about illegal oyster harvesting in a polluted area in Lafourche Parish. Agents were on patrol near Bayou Faleau and observed a vessel with two subjects on board actively harvesting oysters from an area that was deemed polluted by the Louisiana Department of Health.
Agents made contact with the two men on board the vessel identified as Fernandez and Reyes. Agents seized 19 sacks of oysters and returned them to the water. The men were booked into the Lafourche Parish Jail.
Taking oysters from a polluted area brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Improper boat numbers and failing to comply with the boating education requirement each brings up to a $50 fine and 15 days in jail for each offense. Violating the sanitation code brings up to a $25 fine and 10 days in jail.
Any person convicted of these violations may for one year after the date of such conviction only harvest oysters from a vessel that employs a vessel monitoring system. Access to the monitoring system shall be granted to LDWF.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.la.gov. To receive email alerts, signup at http://www.wlf.la.gov/signup.