Four Louisiana Men Cited for Alleged Oyster and Gear Violations by Wildlife Agents
St. Mary Parish, Louisiana – Four Louisiana men have been cited by wildlife agents for alleged oyster and gear violations.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) stated on April 18, 2023, that on April 17, enforcement agents cited four persons for alleged oyster fishing infractions in St. Mary Parish.
Omar Gomes, 46, Jose Tellez, 20, Emiliano Carbajal, 59, and Kelvin Reyes, 32, all of Houma, Louisiana, were cited for taking oysters from state grounds during a closed season and using an unlawful dredge, according to agents.
While on patrol, agents got a report of people harvesting polluted oysters near Point Au Fer Island. When agents arrived, the two vessels had just finished collecting oysters in the closed region with oversized dredges, with one vessel having 28 bags of oysters and the other having 33 sacks.
61 sacks of oysters were seized by Louisiana Wildlife Agents and returned to the water.
Harvesting oysters from state grounds during a closed season is punishable by a fine of $900 to $950 and up to 120 days in prison. The use of an unlawful dredge might result in a $350 fine.
Sgt. Gerald Sander and Agent Joel Rubio are working on the case.
A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.