Four Cited for Closed Season Shrimping Violations in St. Bernard Parish

Published 2:22 pm Thursday, August 26, 2021

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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Law Enforcement Division agents cited four individuals for alleged commercial shrimping violations in St. Bernard Parish.

On Aug. 21, agents cited Mark Hoang, 57, and Anthony Tran, 54, both of New Orleans, for using skimmers during a closed shrimping season.

Agents were on patrol in the Treasure Pass area of St. Bernard Parish when two vessels were located several miles inside an area that is closed to shrimping.  Agents seized 100 pounds of shrimp from Hoang, and 420 pounds of shrimp from Tran.

On Aug. 25, agents cited Tro Van Hoang, 65, and Ve Nguyen, 54, both of Marrero for using skimmers during a closed shrimping season.  Agents were on patrol in the Morgan Harbor area of St. Bernard Parish when a vessel was located one mile inside an area that is closed to shrimping. Agents seized 1,021 pounds of shrimp.

The inside shrimp season closed on July 2 and is not set to reopen until Aug. 27 for this area of the state.

Using skimmers during a closed season carries up to a $950 fine and 120 days in jail.  In addition to any and all other penalties, for the first conviction of shrimping during the closed season, the court may 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 shall sentence the violator to perform forty hours of community service.

All cases will be forwarded to District Attorney Perry Nicosia for prosecution.

Agents participating in the case are Sgt. Villere Reggio, Corporal Blaine Wagner, and Agent Shea Schexnaydre.