LDWF cites seven for alleged oyster fishing violations

Violations occurred on Sister Lake in Terrebonne Parish

Enforcement agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries cited seven men in the last month for alleged oyster fishing violations on the Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation in Terrebonne Parish, which is closed for the 2014-15 oyster season.

On Nov. 7, agents cited Angel Torres-Cuevas, 36, of Houma, for allegedly taking oysters during a closed season and taking oysters from a polluted area.  Agents seized his oyster dredge and dumped a sack of oysters back into the water, according to a press release.

Agents also cited Policarpo D. Olivier, 41, and Maximo Aguilar-Lara, 32, both of Houma, for taking oysters during a closed season on Nov. 10.  Agents dumped 12 sacks of oysters back into the water and seized Olivier’s two dredges, the release states.

On Dec. 1, agents cited Alfredo Oanaya, 31, of Houma, Eliazar Macedo, 28, of Beaumont, Texas, Esteban Reyes-Morelos, of Houma and Francisco Ruiz-Maradiaga, 34, of Houma, for taking oysters during a closed season and for using an illegal dredge.  Agents also cited the captain, Oanaya, for violating the logbook sanitation code.  Agents seized two dredges and dumped 10 sacks of oysters back into the water, according to the release.

Taking oysters during a closed season brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.  Taking oysters from a polluted area carries a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.  Using an illegal dredge brings a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail, and  violating the logbook sanitation code carries up to a $25 fine and up to 10 days in jail.