Two oyster fishermen arrested in cameron parish

[Ray]

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents assigned to the Oyster Strike Force arrested two Sulphur men on April 8 for oyster violations.

The agents observed Allen Dwayne Duraso, 38, and Richard John Geronimo, 46, as they attempted to sell 25 sacks of shell stock oysters, which is 10 sacks over the allowed daily limit of oysters harvested from Calcasieu Lake.

Duraso sold 15 sacks of shell stock oysters without a current vessel license. Duraso and Geronimo then sold another 10 sacks of illegally caught shell stock oysters from their second trip using false boat registration numbers.

Duraso was cited for violating Calcasieu Lake Oyster regulations, no vessel license and intentional concealment of oysters. Geronimo was cited with violating Calcasieu Lake Oyster regulations, intentional concealment of oysters and injuring public records.

The penalties for not having a vessel license is punishable by a fine of $250 to $500, or jail time for up to 90 days, or both plus court costs. For violating Calcasieu Lake Oyster Regulations, the two face fines between $400 and $950, or jail time up to 120 days, or both plus court costs and forfeiture of anything seized. Injuring public records carries up to five years of imprisonment with or without hard labor, and a fine up to $5,000 or both.

[Ray]

I don't know these guys. They are not Cameron residents. Wonder if these are some of them Texas fishermen Bruce was talking about. Or they may be from farther North.

Oops, I see they are from Sulphur.

["W"]

OUTLAWS.......I hope they put there AZZ in Jail.......They have been outlawing all year.........Good for the LW&F.......Hammer there AZZ

[LaAngler]

i just like the name "Oyster Strike Force"

[yak'em-n-stack'em]

OFS, were moving in

[Wag]

They probably will get a slap on the wrist

[cmdrost]

anywhere from a $250 to $900 fine!?!?! That is a slap on the wrist for these guys. Another days work will take care of that. What a joke these fines are. If LDWF is hurting so bad for money, raise fines for everything!! Hit these guys where it hurts.

["W"]

Originally Posted by cmdrost

anywhere from a $250 to $900 fine!?!?! That is a slap on the wrist for these guys. Another days work will take care of that. What a joke these fines are. If LDWF is hurting so bad for money, raise fines for everything!! Hit these guys where it hurts.

Chas.......Whats your outlook on the Oyster Dredging on the Reefs?

[yak'em-n-stack'em]

court costs will be a lot more than that

[Raymond]

What a Joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It always amazes me when these Turds get caught Red Handed the fines they pay.

The guy who owns H&H Marine in Crowley paid Chump Change for over the limit on teal, baiting, and lead shot. I think his fine was less than $5,000 for all of the charges.

Make the fine $500.00 per sack over the limit, $1,000.00 restitution to LDWF per charge and forfieture of license for 5 years.
Same with shrimp or fish, flat rate on shrimp of $250.00 over the limit of 25#'s, fish would be $100.00 per fish.

[Ray]

At one time, they were making commercial fishermen who were caught doing wrong, keep a GPS position monitor on their boat so the LDWF can keep track of them.

[Ray]

THis is how they do it on the other side of the state.
Vessel monitoring systems should be on every boat that has been caught doing something illegal.


Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents cited six individuals for alleged oyster violations in Plaquemines Parish on Monday, April 19.

Agents were on patrol in the Port Sulphur area in Bay De La Cheniere when three boats were spotted harvesting oysters in a closed area. Nam Nguyen, 70, of Port Sulphur, Tai Ly, 58, Sophen Men, 30, Ruben Martinez, 23, Sang Thach, 43, Thy Kim, 42, all from Buras, were cited for taking oysters from an unapproved area.

Agents seized and returned 43 sacks of oysters to the water.

The penalty for taking oysters from an unapproved area is punishable by a fine of $400 to $900, or jail time up to 120 days, or both plus court costs. Any person convicted of these violations may for one year after the date of such conviction only harvest oysters from a vessel that employs a vessel monitoring system. Access to the monitoring system shall be granted to LDWF.

In addition, the oyster harvester's license or licenses under which the violation occurred will be revoked for the period for which it or they were issued. For the first offense, the license or licenses shall not be reinstated for one year. For the second and subsequent offenses, the license or licenses shall not be reinstated for three years.

[cmdrost]

Originally Posted by "W"

Chas.......Whats your outlook on the Oyster Dredging on the Reefs?

I personally think its bad. I've heard some say its does good for the system, but I think what we've got going on here is over-doing it.

Its like aerating your lawn, good to do once, but these guys are doing it to the point of extinction.

There are other methods that are better for the estuary, yet more labor intensive for the fisherman that they have to follow in TX and on East side of the state here in LA. I don't get why they have free run here???

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Ray

THis is how they do it on the other side of the state.
Vessel monitoring systems should be on every boat that has been caught doing something illegal.


Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents cited six individuals for alleged oyster violations in Plaquemines Parish on Monday, April 19.

Agents were on patrol in the Port Sulphur area in Bay De La Cheniere when three boats were spotted harvesting oysters in a closed area. Nam Nguyen, 70, of Port Sulphur, Tai Ly, 58, Sophen Men, 30, Ruben Martinez, 23, Sang Thach, 43, Thy Kim, 42, all from Buras, were cited for taking oysters from an unapproved area.

Agents seized and returned 43 sacks of oysters to the water.

The penalty for taking oysters from an unapproved area is punishable by a fine of $400 to $900, or jail time up to 120 days, or both plus court costs. Any person convicted of these violations may for one year after the date of such conviction only harvest oysters from a vessel that employs a vessel monitoring system. Access to the monitoring system shall be granted to LDWF.

In addition, the oyster harvester's license or licenses under which the violation occurred will be revoked for the period for which it or they were issued. For the first offense, the license or licenses shall not be reinstated for one year. For the second and subsequent offenses, the license or licenses shall not be reinstated for three years.

GPS, is BS just like the guys with the breath machine installed after 3rd offense DWI. One night a couple weeks ago at the tobacco shop the guy next to me has a old freon bottle seatbelted in the passenger seat to start his car because his is Pie-Eyed.

[longcast]

drop the hammer on there #@&'s