Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited three subjects for alleged commercial crabbing violations in St. Bernard Parish on Dec. 15.
Agents cited Philippe R. Despointes, 52, of Madisonville, for failing to maintain records. Agents also cited Lee R. Gonzales III, 45, of Violet, and Ricky P Boudoin III, 22, of St. Bernard, for failing to complete trip tickets and failing to mark crab containers.
Agents were doing a routine seafood compliance check at a commercial seafood business in Violet when they found 64 unmarked blue crab crates. After further investigation, agents learned that Gonzales and Boudoin dropped the crabs off at the business and did not fill out any trip tickets or mark the crab containers. Despointes also didn’t have any record of receiving the crabs.
Agents seized the live blue crabs and returned them to the water.
Failing to maintain records, failing to complete trip tickets and failing to mark crab containers brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail for each offense.
Agents participating in the case are Sgt. David Sanford and Sgt. Ezekiel Talbert Jr.
Tags:Agents[1], Commercial[2], crabbing[3], Violations[4], Violet[5]
