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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited three men for alleged oyster fishing violations in Lafourche Parish on June 10.

Agents cited Marco Dominguez-Aguilar, 21, Daniel Sanchez Machucho, 28, both from Houma, and Luis Miguel Aguilar Macedo, 23, from Bayou Blue, for taking oysters from an unapproved polluted area.

An agent from the Oyster and Seafood Strike Force responded to complaints of illegal oyster harvesting in lower Lafourche Parish.  The agent made contact with the subjects from the vessel and found them in possession of three sacks of oysters.  The location was in a closed polluted area.

The agent seized the oysters and returned them to the water.

Taking oysters from an unapproved polluted area brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.

In addition to all other penalties, the oyster harvester’s license under which the violation occurred could also be revoked by the department and no new such license shall be issued for one year from the date of the conviction.  The violator may also be sentenced to perform 40 hours of community service.  During the period in which the violator is prohibited from possession of an oyster harvester license for a first offense, the violator may be present on a vessel harvesting or processing oysters only if that vessel is equipped with and is actively using a vessel monitoring system.

Sgt. Michael Garrity participated in this case.