Incidents occurred in Bayou Grand Liard and Yellow Cotton Bay, LDWF says
Enforcement agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries cited four men for allegedly using skimmers during a closed shrimp season on May 10 in Plaquemines Parish.
In the Bayou Grand Liard area near Buras at about 9 p.m., Eulice J. Ordoyne Jr., 67, of Buras, and Trebor Fabiano, 33, of Belle Chasse, were cited for using skimmers during a closed shrimp season. Ordoyne also was cited for using improper navigation lights, according to a press release, and agents seized 60 pounds of shrimp.
In a separate incident in Yellow Cotton Bay about 9:30 p.m., agents cited Bradon Granger, 19, of Boothville, and Deiontae V. James, 19, of Venice, for also allegedly using skimmers during a closed season. Agents seized 68 pounds of shrimp, and Granger also was cited for not using any of the required navigation lights, the release states.
The spring inshore shrimp season is currently closed and is not set to open statewide until Monday, May 23, at 6 a.m.
Using skimmers during a closed season carries a fine up to $950 and jail time up to 120 days. Using improper or no running lights carries a $50 fine and up to 15 days in jail.
In addition, for the first conviction of shrimping during the closed season, the court may revoke or suspend the violator’s trawl, skimmer or 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 violator may also have to perform 40 hours of community service, the release states.
