Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement division agents cited two subjects for alleged commercial fishing violations in St. Bernard Parish on Aug. 5.
Agents cited Bernard Johnson, 54, of St. Bernard, and Bruce Connell, 61, of Violet, for using skimmers during a closed shrimp season.
Agents observed the subjects aboard a vessel about 6.5 miles inside Lake Calebasse located in St. Bernard Parish with skimmers down and actively fishing. The inshore shrimp season for this area closed on July 1.
Agents seized 84 pounds of shrimp.
Using skimmers during a closed shrimp season carries a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. The court may also revoke or suspend the violator’s trawl, skimmer, and butterfly gear licenses for one year from the date of the conviction. During such revocation or suspension, the violator may be present on a vessel harvesting or possessing shrimp or possessing a trawl, skimmer, or butterfly net, only if the vessel is equipped with and employs an operating vessel monitoring system which is accessible to LDWF. The court can also sentence the violators to perform 40 hours of community service.
Sgt. Jason Gernados and Corporal Blaine Wagner are participating in the case.
