Three Louisiana Men Cited For Oyster Violations for Allegedly Taking Oysters from an Unapproved Polluted Area

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reported on June 13, 2022, that on June 10, 2022, enforcement agents cited three men for alleged oyster fishing violations in Lafourche Parish.

Marco Dominguez-Aguilar, 21, Daniel Sanchez Machucho, 28, both of Houma, Louisiana, and Luis Miguel Aguilar Macedo, 23, of Bayou Blue, Louisiana, were charged with taking oysters from an unapproved polluted area.

An Oyster and Seafood Strike Force agent responded to reports of illegal oyster harvesting in lower Lafourche Parish. The agent made contact with the vessel’s subjects and discovered them in possession of three sacks of oysters. The location was in a densely populated, polluted area.

The oysters were seized by the agent and returned to the water. Taking oysters from an unapproved polluted area is punishable by a fine of $900 to $950 and up to 120 days in jail.

In addition to all other penalties, the department may revoke the oyster harvester’s license under which the violation occurred, and no new such license shall be issued for one year from the date of the conviction. In addition, the violator may be sentenced to 40 hours of community service. During the period during which the violator is barred from possessing an oyster harvester license for the first time, the violator may be present on a vessel harvesting or processing oysters only if the vessel is equipped with and actively using a vessel monitoring system.

 Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sgt. Michael Garrity took part in this investigation.