Three Texas men accused of illegal oyster harvesting

Incident occurred July 24 in Terrebonne Parish, LDWF says

Enforcement agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries arrested three Texas men Friday for alleged oyster harvesting violations in Terrebonne Parish.

According to a press release, agents arrested Israel Beiza-Lopez, 30, Jose L. Lopez, 26, and Pedro M. Cruz, 25, all of Dallas, for taking oysters during a closed season on the Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation.

Agents on patrol Friday morning observed a vessel in the Sister Lake Seed Reservation actively dredging for oysters, and allegedly found the three men in possession of 30 sacks of oysters.

Agents seized the vessel, oyster dredges, GPS device and returned the oysters to the water, and the men were booked into the Terrebonne Parish Jail.

The Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation is closed for the 2014-15 season.

Taking oysters during a closed season brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail, the release states.