Louisiana Man Cited for Commercial Fishing Violations After Allegedly Selling Over 50, 000 Pounds of Shrimp and Over 6,000 Pounds of Sheepshead Without the Proper Licenses

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Published August 30, 2022

Louisiana Man Cited for Commercial Fishing Violations After Allegedly Selling Over 50, 000 Pounds of Shrimp and Over 6,000 Pounds of Sheepshead Without the Proper Licenses

Louisiana – On August 29, 2022, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) reported that enforcement agents cited a Boothville, Louisiana man for alleged commercial fishing violations in Plaquemines Parish on Aug. 23.

Agents cited Webley L. Bourgeois, 47, for taking commercial fish without a commercial license and taking commercial fish without a gear license. According to authorities, Bourgeois had his licenses revoked in March of 2021 due to unpaid taxes.

Bourgeois allegedly sold 51,891 pounds of shrimp and 6,223 pounds of sheepshead in 2022, all without a commercial fishing license or a gear license. Bourgeois received all sales through trip tickets filed with LDWF.

Taking commercial fish without a commercial license or a commercial gear license is punishable by a fine of $250 to $500 and up to 90 days in prison.

In addition, Bourgeois faces civil reparation of $137,218.13 for the replacement value of the illegally caught fish.

This is Bourgeois’s fourth offense for fishing without the necessary commercial licenses. The case will be handed up to District Attorney Charles Ballay for prosecution. The case agents are Lt. Adam Young, Sgt. Villere Reggio, and Corporal Austin Landry.