Tag Archives: Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Three Men Cited for Commercial Fishing Violations in East Baton Rouge and St. Martin Parishes
Agents cited Calvin P. Chenier, 22, of Churchpoint, and Calvin P. Simoneaux, 63, of Churchpoint, for taking or selling commercial fish without commercial fishing licenses and taking commercial fish without commercial gear license. Agents also cited Chenier for illegal possession of game fish. Jimmy Fruge, 83, of Breaux Bridge was also cited for buying commercial fish from an unlicensed fisherman and failing to maintain public records.
>click to read< 9:29
Agents Cite Three Men for Commercial Fishing Violations in Plaquemines Parish
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement agents cited three men for alleged commercial fishing violations in in Plaquemines Parish on Feb. 7. Agents cited Thanh Dang, 45, and Khai Bui, 62, both of Biloxi, Miss., and Phong Thai, 53, of Gautier, Miss., for taking commercial fish without a commercial fisherman’s license. Agents were on patrol when they boarded a vessel with the three subjects on board in the Mississippi River near Pilottown for a commercial license and turtle excluder device inspection. Upon boarding the vessel the Captain, Thanh Dang, produced commercial fishing licenses for another person who was not on board the vessel. Agents also found that none of the men possessed non-resident commercial licenses for the 2023 fishing year. >click to read< 14:24
Boothville Man Cited For Commercial Fishing Violations in Plaquemines Parish
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited a Boothville man for alleged commercial fishing violations in Plaquemines Parish on Aug. 23. Agents cited Webley L. Bourgeois, 47, for taking commercial fish without a commercial license and taking commercial fish without a gear license. Bourgeois had his licenses revoked in March of 2021 due to unpaid taxes. In 2022, Bourgeois sold a total of 51,891 pounds of shrimp, and 6,223 pounds of sheepshead all taken without the required commercial fishing license and gear license. All sales were obtained by trip tickets Bourgeois filed with LDWF. >click to read< 13:27
Alabama Man Cited For Commercial Fishing Violations in Plaquemines Parish
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Agents cited an Alabama man for alleged commercial fishing violations in Plaquemines Parish on March 17. Agents cited James R. Owens, 53, of Sumerdale, Alabama, for fishing without a commercial gear license and using shrimp trawls exceeding the size requirements in offshore Louisiana territorial waters. Agents were on a Joint Enforcement Agreement patrol in the Gulf of Mexico inspecting shrimp vessels for Turtle Excluder Device (TED) regulations. They boarded a vessel captained by Owens and found he did not possess commercial gear licenses for each of the four trawls he was actively using. >click to read< 16:00
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries describes floodwater impacts on LA seafood as ‘extreme’. Fishermen are concerned.
Scientists pointed out significant numbers of fin fish, shrimp, crab and oysters lost so far this year, with the sharpest declines seen at oyster beds. Marine fisheries biologist Nicole Smith said oyster men have reported 60% to 100% mortality rates among coastal oysters.,,, Kimberly Chauvin attended the meeting to represent the David Chauvin Seafood Co. in Dulac. She said her central location dodged the worst of the floodwater intrusion, but she is concerned about the flood of toxins the floods carry with it. Video, >click to read< 15:34
State of Louisiana seeks shrimpers for bycatch study
State fisheries officials are asking Louisiana shrimpers to participate in a study that aims to monitor how much other types of seafood get caught in trawlers’ nets. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says the voluntary 2019 study is part of the agency’s commitment to “support the sustainability certification of Louisiana’s shrimp fishery.”,,, Participation in the state study will require commercial trawlers to allow agency staff members aboard their boats during designated trips throughout the 2019 shrimp seasons. The staff members will collect a sample from each haul. A background check and vessel and site inspection is required of each participating fisherman. >click to read<12:12
Russian fish escaping into Louisiana waters? Sturgeon farming plan raises alarm
Nutria, feral hogs and Asian carp are just a few of the foreign invaders harming Louisiana’s marshes and rivers. Now the state is entertaining the idea of allowing the import and farming of sterlet sturgeon, a Russian fish currently banned in Louisiana. Why? The basic answer: its eggs are the food equivalent of gold, fetching prices of nearly $100 per ounce as top-shelf caviar. A plan under consideration by the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries would permit the raising of the sterlet sturgeon, a major producer of caviar in the Caspian and Black Sea regions, in indoor pools. >click here to read< 12:14
Auditors question spending at Louisiana fisheries agency
Here are some preliminary findings from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office, which raises questions about spending in the state’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries from 2010 through 2015. A draft of the audit report was obtained by The Associated Press and hasn’t been released publicly yet: Less than half the 2,376 fish samples expected to be tested in a seafood safety program financed by BP were collected. A biologist wasn’t always present for the sampling, auditors say, and the sampling operation was overseen by an employee who “did not have supervisory or biology education or experience.” Unnecessary boats, fishing equipment, cameras and computers were bought with the money, according to the draft report, which says the fish testing team spent $3 million on testing of 1,091 samples that couldn’t determine fish safety, the equivalent of $2,796 spent per tested fish. Federal grant funds were spent to buy a $220,000 used boat, motors and a trailer “that appeared to have little or no benefit to the agency,” has been used twice since 2012 and have cost nearly $38,000 to maintain and repair, another $764,000 in clothing and uniform purchases, sponsorship spending and contracts, Nearly $134,000 was paid, for example, to a university for the design and upkeep of a website that benefited two private entities that host annual fishing rodeos,,, Read the rest here 20:25
Louisiana commercial crab fishermen will see conservation restrictions for next three years
Louisiana took another step toward a commercial crabbing season Thursday after the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved a proposal that would shut down crab fishing for 90 days over the next three years. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries crustacean biologist Jeff Marx told the commission Louisiana’s crab harvest is too high, and something needs to be done to protect the health of the fishery. “It’s not panic mode, but it is something we’re concerned about,” he said. Marx asked the commission to approve a department plan that would shut down all commercial crabbing for 30 days beginning the third Monday in February. The closure would be in effect in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Also restricted would be harvest of immature female crabs throughout the year, except for those that show signs of imminent molting. So-called “buster” crabs are important for the soft-shell-crab industry. Read the rest here 14:55
Inshore shrimping to close Friday across most of La. coast
The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said Tuesday that the closure does not affect: Certain restricted areas in Terrebonne, Timbalier and Barataria bays. Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham said the intent is to provide additional opportunity for shrimpers to continue harvest in areas where white shrimp are somewhat less abundant and somewhat larger than in the interior marshes. Read the rest here 14:32
Louisiana Lawmakers vote to let Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents enforce federal sea turtle law
State wildlife officials should soon be able to enforce federal laws that require shrimp nets to include escape hatches for
. The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s “Seafood Watch,” a program that recommends seafood choices to consumers and is popular with environmentalists, has recommended at least since 2013 that people avoid Louisiana wild-caught shrimp — which are caught mostly in state waters — because of the ban. Read the rest here 11:15
5 Houma residents cited for oyster refrigeration regulation violations
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents cited Houma residents Leonardo F. Vega, 36, Jose Cardenas-Arrendondo, 32, Antonio C. Aguado, 59, Antonio C. Aguado Jr., 32, and Ricardo C. Rodriguez, 39, for violating oyster refrigeration requirements on March 8, according to a release.Violating oyster brings a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Violating oyster sanitation regulations and failing to maintain oyster harvesting logbook each bring a $25 fine and up to 10 days in jail. Read the rest here 20:42
Shrimpers getting Screwed – Shrimp Season Showdown: Oilmen, shrimper at odds over blasting
A huge blasting operation by an energy exploration company in prime shrimping waters has pit oilmen against fishermen, who say it interferes with what had promised to be a lucrative white shrimp season. “It’s poor management and poor government and companies knowing the situation and knowing that these poor guys are struggling out there,” ,,, Read more here 16:47
Local Calcasieu Parish seafood restaurants adjust to price hike on shrimp
It’s been nearly four decades since the price of shrimp has been this high, but it hasn’t hampered demand.The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shrimp program manager Martin Bourgeois said the price for shrimp has nearly doubled since last year and it may be due to the lack of imported shrimp. Read more here 22:15
Mother Nature to blame for higher shrimp, crab prices – video
Louisiana hasn’t seen the last of those cold winter temperatures. Mother Nature is having an effect on seafood in the state, Crawfish season was delayed by two months and now shrimp and crab season is also behind. Prices for both are some of the highest they’ve been since the 1970’s. Read more here 19:52
As brown shrimp season opens, several cited for trawling in BP oil spill closure area
Soon after the spring brown shrimp season opened Monday for inshore waters, eight fishers were cited for trawling in a 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill closure zone. The shrimpers, mainly from Jefferson Parish, were fishing in the area of Bay Jimmy in Plaquemines Parish, according to the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Read more here 11:11
Louisiana: First catches of shrimp season ‘not too good’
It was a mixed bag at docks lining local bayous as the first skiffs returned to deliver the first brown shrimp of the spring season. Inshore waters between Freshwater Bayou and the Mississippi River opened at 6 a.m. Monday, but local fishermen said it’s too early to tell whether an already shortened season is going to be bountiful. Read more here 06:36
Louisiana Shrimpers wait idly for waters to reopen
South Louisianans may have felt a warm breeze sweeping in off the Gulf of Mexico earlier this week. Call it a godsend or a late arrival, shrimp fisherman are hoping that warm southerly wind is here to stay. One of the coldest winters on record has dampened the growth of Louisiana’s inland brown shrimp. Read more here 08:14
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries calling for public input on proposed changes to the Louisiana Wild Seafood Certification Program.
A public meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 25 at the agency’s headquarters, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge. The changes involve product registration requirements for retail packages, supply chain verification process and guidelines for logo use. They can be viewed at www.doa.louisiana.gov/osr/reg/register.htm. Information: www.wlf.la.gov and www.facebook.com/ldwffb. 12:19:
“Red Listed” – Louisiana unhappy with California group’s ‘avoid’ shrimp label
“The socioeconomic impacts to our shrimpers from this designation has the potential to cripple families and coastal communities who have endured repeated disasters, including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike, Gustav and Isaac, the BP oil spill and the disappearance of our coast,” Barham wrote. more@houmatoday 08:29
Well, Here’s one way to get rid of construction debris! – State, CCA, companies team up to make artificial reef
Construction began Friday on a new artificial reef in Vermilion Bay that will stretch eight acres. Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana has gotten together with Shell Oil Co., the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Roadrock Recycling and D&L Salvage and Marine to build the reef, is using 10,000 tons of recycled brick and concrete from an old sugar mill in Baldwin, which helps keep the project’s costs down. continued@ dailyiberian
3 Texas men cited for red snapper violations
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Three Texas men face federal reef fish violations for allegedly harvesting red snapper without a permit and exceeding bag limits. The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said Thursday that it cited the men 49-year-old Oscar Naranjo, of Galveston, Texas; 51-year-old Eustacio Rangel, of Port Isabelle, Texas; and 47-year-old Vincent Longoria, of Palacios, Texas for being illegally in possession of 42 red snapper.
Agents patrolling 50 miles south of Grand Isle in the Gulf of Mexico boarded an 80-foot shrimp trawling vessel and found the fish inside an insulated holding box. The men did not possess a commercial permit needed to harvest and sell reef fish. Shrimp trawl vessels may not exceed recreational reef fish bag limits, which are two per person for red snapper.
Louisiana Shrimpers optimistic over new season
Shrimp season opened Monday morning, and fishermen headed into state waters with a certain amount of optimism following years of dismal catches. “Fishermen are always optimistic,” said Clint Guidry, president of the Louisiana Shrimp Association. “Between hurricanes, flooding, losing our boats and our homes, we have to be. It would be really easy just to quit and leave. But this is what we do. This is our culture.” continued
Louisiana Murky Dealings: Bill makes for fisheries furor – Money Grab Alleged – Motives are Questioned
Two bills filed in the Louisiana House and Senate that would radically change the status of the board that markets the state’s seafood are whipping up a maelstrom within the $2.4 billion industry it serves. continued
Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board alternative bill gets mixed reviews
Sen. Norby Chabert began sculpting a new vision for the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board during the last legislative session, and continues a path toward change during the current one. But the Houma Republican’s new bill, which would place the embattled entity under the auspices of the Lieutenant Governor rather than the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has been less than well received by fishermen and others in the industry. continued
Program aims for better oyster management DailyComet.com – Louisiana’s 1.6 million acres of public oyster beds.
By Nikki Buskey State officials are launching a pilot program to better manage Louisiana’s 1.6 million acres of public oyster beds. The Vessel Monitoring System Pilot Program aims to collect data on oyster harvests on public grounds by requiring tracking units on harvest boats. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will provide the tracking units to licensed oyster harvesters for free, with costs limited to minimal maintenance and care.The state is contracting with Pole Star Space Applications, a fleet management and monitoring company, to provide,,,,,,,,Read More http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20121023/ARTICLES/121029848?tc=ar
