ST. BERNARD -
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents assigned to the Oyster Strike Force cited 22 men on Sept. 16 for alleged oyster violations in Lake Borgne in St. Bernard Parish.
While on patrol in lower St. Bernard Parish, agents saw the vessels, Johnny's Dream, Venture, LA 8804 BC, Kristen Louise, Miss Mandy, Natasha Marie, Franka, Joey C, Blessed Assurance, and Susie C dredging for oysters on unleased water bottoms. The area in question contains private leases and unleased state water bottoms.
Utilizing LDWF's global positioning satellite equipment, agents marked the locations with a lead enforcement vessel before boarding the vessels. The locations were proven to be on unleased state water bottoms where oyster harvesting is illegal.
George A. Barisich, 53, Joshua Machado, 26, both from Violet; Homero Camargo, 34, and Daniel Camargo, 29, both from St. Bernard; Jose Bocanegra Sr., 44, Jose Bocanegra Jr., Jose Miguel Bocanegra, 43, all from Bacliff, Texas; Albelardo Avilez Carbajal, 46, and Santa Dardar Carbajal, 40, both from Theriot; Trent David Tomasich, 31, and Randy Scott Tomasich, 42, both from Bay St. Louis, Miss; Jorge Perez, 32, from Welmar, Texas; Miguel Perez, 23 from Webster, Texas; Jose Duran, 42, from Houston, Texas; John Blanchard Jr., 29, from Amite; Robert Wade, 40, from Ocean Springs, Miss; Jessy Necaise, 21, from Kiln, Miss; Jose Maldonado, 36, from Magnolia, Texas; Robert Conklin Jr., 37, from Montegut; John Mejia, 44, from Golden Meadow; Ronald Silva Jr., 26, from Chalmette; and Bryan Davis, 39, from Ponchatoula were cited for unlawfully taking oysters from state water bottoms.
Agents seized and returned over 2500 sacks of oysters to the water bottom. The vessels and dredges were placed under the department's seizure order pending the court case.
The penalty for unlawfully taking oysters from state water bottoms is a fine up to $950, imprisonment for up to 120 days, or both, plus courts costs. For any person convicted of this violation, the courts may order that person to only harvest oysters from a vessel that employs a vessel monitoring system for a period of one year. Access to the monitoring system shall be granted to LDWF. For that year, the person convicted of these violations shall identify for the department which vessel he will be using to harvest oysters.
Agents participating in the case were Lt. Eddie Skena, Sgts. Bryan Marie and Kris Bourgeous, Senior Agents Mike Garrity, Villere Regio, Robert Cosse and Gary Pierce.
While on patrol in lower St. Bernard Parish, agents saw the vessels, Johnny's Dream, Venture, LA 8804 BC, Kristen Louise, Miss Mandy, Natasha Marie, Franka, Joey C, Blessed Assurance, and Susie C dredging for oysters on unleased water bottoms. The area in question contains private leases and unleased state water bottoms.
Utilizing LDWF's global positioning satellite equipment, agents marked the locations with a lead enforcement vessel before boarding the vessels. The locations were proven to be on unleased state water bottoms where oyster harvesting is illegal.
George A. Barisich, 53, Joshua Machado, 26, both from Violet; Homero Camargo, 34, and Daniel Camargo, 29, both from St. Bernard; Jose Bocanegra Sr., 44, Jose Bocanegra Jr., Jose Miguel Bocanegra, 43, all from Bacliff, Texas; Albelardo Avilez Carbajal, 46, and Santa Dardar Carbajal, 40, both from Theriot; Trent David Tomasich, 31, and Randy Scott Tomasich, 42, both from Bay St. Louis, Miss; Jorge Perez, 32, from Welmar, Texas; Miguel Perez, 23 from Webster, Texas; Jose Duran, 42, from Houston, Texas; John Blanchard Jr., 29, from Amite; Robert Wade, 40, from Ocean Springs, Miss; Jessy Necaise, 21, from Kiln, Miss; Jose Maldonado, 36, from Magnolia, Texas; Robert Conklin Jr., 37, from Montegut; John Mejia, 44, from Golden Meadow; Ronald Silva Jr., 26, from Chalmette; and Bryan Davis, 39, from Ponchatoula were cited for unlawfully taking oysters from state water bottoms.
Agents seized and returned over 2500 sacks of oysters to the water bottom. The vessels and dredges were placed under the department's seizure order pending the court case.
The penalty for unlawfully taking oysters from state water bottoms is a fine up to $950, imprisonment for up to 120 days, or both, plus courts costs. For any person convicted of this violation, the courts may order that person to only harvest oysters from a vessel that employs a vessel monitoring system for a period of one year. Access to the monitoring system shall be granted to LDWF. For that year, the person convicted of these violations shall identify for the department which vessel he will be using to harvest oysters.
Agents participating in the case were Lt. Eddie Skena, Sgts. Bryan Marie and Kris Bourgeous, Senior Agents Mike Garrity, Villere Regio, Robert Cosse and Gary Pierce.
