Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division
agents cited three men on April 25 for alleged oyster violations
near the Deer Bay area in Terrebonne Parish.
Samuel Dobson,
27, from Houma, Toby McCoy, 31, from Covington, and Juan Rivera,
29, from Taft, Texas were all cited for taking oysters from
unleased state water bottoms.
Responding to complaints
near the Deer Bay area, agents saw the vessel dredging for
oysters on unleased water bottoms. The area in question contains
private leases and unleased state water bottoms.
Utilizing the LDWF's
GPS, agents marked the location before boarding the vessels.
The locations were found to be on unleased state water bottoms.
Agents seized and
returned 20 sacks of oysters to the water and placed two oyster
dredges and the boat under seizure order.
The penalty for
unlawfully taking oysters from state water bottoms is a fine
up to $750, imprisonment for not more than 120 days, or both,
plus courts costs.
Agents participating
in the case were Lt. Stephen McManus, Sgt. Bryan Marie and
Senior Agent Mike Garrity.
