Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited two men for alleged illegal shrimping on March 17 in Iberia Parish.
Agents cited Hoang D. Nguyen, 55, of Katy, Texas, and Nile L. Franklin, 52, of Gretna, for taking shrimp in state waters during a closed season.
Agents observed the two men onboard a vessel actively trawling for shrimp inside state waters southeast of Marsh Island Refuge. Agents boarded the vessel and found harvested shrimp on board as well as shrimp in the trawls.
Agents returned the shrimp from the trawls back to the water. Agents also seized 3,409 pounds of sacked 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. Jesse Savoie, Sgt. Justin Sonnier, Sgt. David Sanford, and Senior Agent Nathan Vanya.