Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDFW) enforcement agents seized 236 pounds of catfish from an individual accused of illegally harvesting them for commercial use.
According to LDFW, agents spotted Des Allemands-resident Jacob Breaux while patrolling Bayou Des Allemands on 15 January. The agents made contact with Breaux when they learned he did not have a commercial gear license and was setting lines without the associated commercial fishing license number.
The agents recovered 236 pounds of illegally harvested catfish from the incident, which was later sold to the highest bidder.
Breaux was cited and faces a fine of up to USD 500 (EUR 418) and up to 90 days in jail for fishing without a commercial gear license, as well as a fine of up to USD 50 (EUR 42) for failing to tag set lines.
The citation comes nearly a year after the LDFW cited two subjects for commercial catfish harvesting violations.
Earlier this month, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources announced its intention to charge 25 people for failing to report more than 300,000 pounds of catfish taken from public waters. The department said it plans to file more than 700 charges as a result of a 10-month investigation.
