Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited two Louisiana men for alleged oyster harvester violations on Dec. 11 in Terrebonne Parish.
Agents cited John Parker, 29, and Richard Ainsworth, 39, for taking oyster during a closed season on the Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation and taking oysters from a polluted area.
Agents observed Parker and Ainsworth around 9:30 a.m. actively dredging for oysters from the Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation. The Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation is closed for the entire 2018-19 oyster season. The area where Parker and Ainsworth were found dredging is also an unapproved polluted area.
Agents seized 17 sacks of oysters and returned them to the water.
Taking oysters from an unapproved polluted area and during a closed season each brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail for each offense. The men could also face having 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.