Agents seize about 700 pounds of shrimp from two vessels, LDWF says
Agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries cited six men for alleged shrimping violations in the Lake Pontchartrain Sanctuary on Dec. 7 in Orleans Parish.
According to a release, agents on patrol in Lake Pontchartrain near the Seabrook Bridge observed two commercial vessels actively shrimping with their skimmer nets in the water within the restricted area.
Agents stopped both vessels and cited Roy Migliore, 42, Charles Allen, 31, Michael Chagnard, 27, and Santo Chagnard, 21, all from Chalmette, as well as Carey Hendrix, 25, and Casey Guidry, 17, both from Slidell, for using skimmers in a closed area, the release states.
The agents seized about 700 pounds of shrimp from the two vessels, according to the release.
The Lake Pontchartrain Sanctuary extends out 1 ¼ miles from the southern shoreline of the lake starting at the Jefferson/Orleans parish line and extending eastward 1 ¼ miles from the Southern Railway Bridge then traveling to a point 1 ¼ miles southwest of Goose Point in St. Tammany Parish.
Taking fish, shrimp and other aquatic species by use of trawls, skimmer nets, butterfly nets, seines or traps, (with the exception of crab traps, cast nets and recreational rod and reel fishing), is prohibited in the Lake Pontchartrain Sanctuary.
Violating the Sanctuary restrictions brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail, the release states.
