Two shrimpers in the U.S. state of Louisiana were cited by law enforcement officers after being accused of illegally blocking fish passage with their operations.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDFW) claim their agents observed the violations on 14 October in Cameron Parish while conducting surveillance on residents Lawrence Mallett, 66, and Sky Leger, 44, harvesting shrimp. The agents said the pair’s vessel was tied to a water control structure and they were using their nets to block the passage of shrimp in Mud Bayou.
Agents approached the subjects and cited them for blocking the passage of fish – a shrimping violation in the state that carries a punishment of up to 90 days in jail and a fine between USD 250 to USD 500 (EUR 215 to EUR 430).
Law enforcement also seized 2,050 pounds of illegally harvested shrimp from the pair, which was later sold to the highest bidder.
Earlier in October, LDFW agents caught a man from Texas illegally shrimping in Cameron Parish without a vessel license. The subject was cited, and the 5,000 pounds of shrimp he had harvested were seized and sold to the highest bidder.
