Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) agents arrested two men for alleged oyster violations in Terrebonne Parish on Sept. 25.
Agents arrested Quint Liner Jr., 24, of Dularge, and Bobby Billiot, 24, of Houma, for illegally harvesting oysters during a closed season on the Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation. The Sister Lake Seed grounds are closed until Oct. 19, 2015.
Liner Jr was also charged for operating a vessel during a license suspension, failing to have his commercial license in possession and taking oysters without an oyster harvester license.
Agents were actively patrolling the area in and around the closed Sister Lake Reservation when they observed an oyster vessel dredging for oysters. Upon inspection, agents found loose oysters in the dredges, a pile of oysters on deck and sacked oysters. Agents seized the vessel, two dredges and 13 sacks of oysters, which were returned to the water.
The men were booked into the Terrebonne Parish Jail.
Taking oysters during a closed season brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Any person convicted of this violation may only harvest oysters from a vessel that employs a vessel monitoring system monitored by LDWF for a period of one year. Operating a vessel during suspension and taking oysters without an oyster harvester license each brings a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Failing to have possession of a commercial license brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail.
Agents participating in the case are Lt. Davis Madere, Sgt. Ezekiel Talbert, Sgt. Thomas DeWitt, Senior Agent Michael Marques Jr., Senior Agent Michael Williams and Senior Agent Richard Bean.
For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.