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NIGHT HUNTERS APPREHENDED WITH DOE
L.D.W.F. ENFORCEMENT DIVISION ASSISTS SEAFOOD INDUSTRY IN
AFTERMATH OF
HURRICANES
L.D.W.F. UPDATED ESTIMATES INDICATE KATRINA AND RITA COULD
COST THE STATE'S FISHERIES' INDUSTRIES $2.3 BILLION OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS
L.D.W.F. HOLDING NATIONAL
HUNTING AND FISHING DAY OCT. 22
LDWF TO OFFER FREE ASSISTANCE TO BOAT OWNERS NEEDING DOCUMENTATION FOR LOSSES
ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANES
L.D.W.F.'s NATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING DAY EVENTS POSTPONED
DUE TO
HURRICANE RITA
BEAUREGARD PARISH MAN CITED FOR CLOSED SEASON DEER HUNTING
AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE
TWO WEST CARROLL PARISH MEN CITED FOR FISH SHOCKING
NIGHT HUNTERS APPREHENDED WITH DOE
A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division
agent arrested two men for allegedly hunting deer during illegal hours in
Pointe Coupee Parish on Oct. 13.
Krotz Springs Police Officer Jason Sonnier pulled over Robert G. Kerner Jr.,
31, of Breaux Bridge and Robert D. Reed, 52, of Lafayette for a traffic stop
in Krotz Springs. Sonnier then notified LDWF Senior Agent Brad Guidroz
after he allegedly found the pair in possession of a freshly killed doe in
the bed of their pickup truck. Further investigation determined that the
deer had been killed in Pointe Coupee Parish along the Atchafalaya River
just after midnight.
Kerner and Reed were booked into the St. Landry Parish jail and then
transported and booked into the Pointe Coupee Detention Center. The doe was
seized and donated to charity. A .22 caliber magnum rifle was also seized
and is being held as evidence. The men were additionally assessed civil
restitution in the amount of $524.54 for the replacement value of the deer.
The penalty for hunting deer during illegal hours is a fine of $900 to $950,
jail time for up to 120 days, or both plus court costs and forfeiture of
anything seized.
L.D.W.F. ENFORCEMENT DIVISION ASSISTS SEAFOOD INDUSTRY IN AFTERMATH OF
HURRICANES
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division is
actively working in cooperation with seafood industry representatives to
help re-establish the infrastructure of Louisiana's seafood businesses
throughout coastal Louisiana.
Many seafood dealers across Louisiana's coast have been impacted as a result
of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These commercial industries contribute
billions of dollars to the state and nations economy. Agents are helping to
ensure that seafood businesses have the necessary paperwork, licenses,
reporting capabilities and other items, which are necessary for basic
business operation.
Agents are also assisting business operators with specific requests in which
the department can provide immediate response, in order to help businesses
return to operating conditions. As a result of physical facility
displacement of many seafood businesses, agents are also providing contact
information to dealers temporarily relocated.
Col. Winton Vidrine says, "The Enforcement Division will continue to assist
the commercial fishing industry during this recovery period in their efforts
to get people back to work."
L.D.W.F. UPDATED ESTIMATES INDICATE KATRINA AND RITA
COULD COST THE STATE'S FISHERIES' INDUSTRIES $2.3 BILLION OVER THE NEXT TWO
YEARS
The Louisiana Department and Wildlife and Fisheries' (LDWF) preliminary
estimates for storm-related fisheries' losses at the retail level could
exceed $2 billion over the next year. The latest estimates combine $981
million in production losses for parishes affected by Hurricane Rita with
the $1.29 billion losses projected for areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina
for a total of $2.27 billion. That number represents 80 percent of the
total commercial and recreational retail harvest values in 2003, based on
sales levels of $2.85 billion.
Estimates for losses from Hurricane Rita are based on analysis of fisheries
resources in half of Lafourche, Terrebonne and St. Martin over a six-month
period. A twelve-month recovery period was calculated for Assumption,
Iberville, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, Acadia, Avoyelles, St. Mary, Iberia,
Jefferson Davis, Vermilion, Calcasieu and Cameron parishes, based on damage
done by Rita in those areas. Those factors considered include the
hurricane's path, aerial observations of the impacted area conducted on
Sept. 26 and 27, on the ground surveys and staff reports summarizing the
status of the fishing fleet and individual commercial and recreational
fishing establishments.
By comparison, Katrina's impact assessment assumed that the hurricane's
impact was limited to the parishes of Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St.
Bernard, St. Tammany and half of Lafourche. LDWF also documented extensive
fish kills in Tangipahoa, Livingston, Ascension, St. James, St. John the
Baptist and St. Charles parishes. Estimated losses from Katrina were based
on available historical data using previous losses sustained after
hurricanes and landings averaged over the past five years.
"As was the case for the projections with Katrina, the estimated losses for
damage done by Rita are subject to adjustment as additional aerial
observations and on the ground surveys are made over the next several
months," said John Roussel, assistant secretary for LDWF's Office of
Fisheries.
For oysters, LDWF biologists estimated the direct loss of resource valued at
$13 million,on the public grounds, by using recently developed estimates of
stock size on these grounds prior to the hurricane and previous studies of
hurricane related oyster mortality (Hurricane Andrew, 1992; Hurricane Lili,
2002, Hurricane Ivan, 2004), and current mortality estimates generated from
post-storm field sampling. Initial field sampling on public grounds in
Terrebonne and Iberia Parishes indicated an overall mortality of
approximately 30 percent. However, the most heavily impacted area, the
Calcasieu Lake public oyster area in Cameron Parish, has yet to be
thoroughly investigated for oyster mortalities.
To determine the impact of Katrina on oysters, the department used studies
of resource mortality caused by hurricanes Ivan and Andrew to estimate
mortality of existing resources. The initial estimate was a 99 percent
mortality rate, representing a $206 million loss of oyster resources, in the
area from Bayou Lafourche east to the Mississippi state line. LDWF field
biologists are collecting and analyzing data from these areas now, and
expect the actual mortality to be somewhat lower.
The Rita-related retail level losses for the oyster industry reflect a
two-year projected shortfall of $82 million when compared to the
productivity of recent years. Two-year retail level losses based on
Katrina's damage total $296 million.
Recreational fisheries losses over the next year could total $421 million at
the retail level. This figure includes losses incurred by licensed charter
and guide vessels operating in the severely affected parishes.
Potential retail sales losses for the state's primary fishing industries:
Category 12 Month Potential Production Losses at Retail Level
KATRINA 12 Month Potential Production Losses at Retail Level RITA
Crab $81,776,427
$68,255,059
Freshwater FisH $1,256,934
$19,515,304
Oysters $296,427,648 *
$82,287,284*
Saltwater Fish $172,145,944**
$182,390,804**
Shrimp $538,996,879
$380,354,398
Wild Crawfish $ ---------------
$27,706,395
Recreational Fisheries $199,517,744
$221,383,678
Total $1,290,121,576
$981,392,606
* Oyster losses are for two (2) years.
** Includes Gulf Menhaden
Loss of infrastructure supporting the fisheries industry and long term
impacts to fisheries habitat are more difficult to quantify. Infrastructure
losses are characterized as lost or damaged vessels, docks, ice plants and
processing facilities, but also include cold storage facilities, boat ramps,
launches, marinas and bait and tackle shops. Estimates are still being
calculated for infrastructure lost or damaged by the two hurricanes.
L.D.W.F. HOLDING
NATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING DAY OCT. 22
The 21st annual National Hunting and Fishing Day is being celebrated across
the state on Saturday, Oct. 22. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries would like to extend an open invitation to the public to attend
the free events in Baton Rouge, Minden, Monroe and Woodworth.
Louisiana's National Hunting and Fishing Day celebrates the value of the
hunting and fishing industries to Louisiana's economy, and the importance of
hunting and fishing activities to Louisiana's culture.
In the Baton Rouge metro area the festivities take place at Waddill Refuge
at 4142 Flannery Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features exhibits created by
LDWF personnel, other government resource agencies and hunting and fishing
groups like the Coastal Conservation Association and Ducks Unlimited.
The event offers hands-on activities like canoeing, skeet shooting and a
kids' fishing contest from 9-11 a.m. This year the department will have a
catfish pool where very young anglers can catch their first fish and get
souvenir photos. There are also demonstrations and displays to see, like J.
B. Salter's jigging poles and Keith Felder's Southern Essentials pirogues.
As always, admission and activities are absolutely free.
National Hunting and Fishing Day was originally planned for Sept. 24, but
was postponed for the first time ever due to Hurricane Rita.
The event is sponsored in part by Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Company,
The Advocate, Associated Grocers and Progressive Insurance.
LDWF TO OFFER FREE ASSISTANCE TO BOAT OWNERS NEEDING DOCUMENTATION FOR
LOSSES ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANES
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is working with
vessel owners and their insurance companies to provide assistance with
documentation required to file claims for the loss of boats during
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
To assist boat owners who suffered losses, the department will provide free
certified copies of boat registrations and will cancel registration records
for which written documentation is received from the registered owner or the
insurance company for lost, stolen or missing boats. Along with the written
request for a certified copy or a cancellation, registered owners should
provide a copy of their driver's licenses for identification purposes. This
information may be faxed to 225-763-5421.
LDWF is taking a proactive approach to curtail fraud and theft by
scrutinizing ownership documentation for new applications submitted to
register boats that may have been affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The Department will work with the Office of the Attorney General and make
every effort to protect the rights of legitimate boat owners. Registration
transactions will not be allowed for salvaged, found or abandoned boats.
Louisiana has several criminal statutes that address theft, fraudulent
applications and related matters. LDWF agents will investigate and file
charges on anyone attempting an illegal transfer of a motorboat.
L.D.W.F.'s NATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING DAY EVENTS
POSTPONED DUE TO
HURRICANE RITA
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has postponed
National Hunting and Fishing Day events statewide until Oct. 22 due to
safety concerns posed by Hurricane Rita and storm preparations underway.
"LDWF personnel are currently involved in pre-storm preparation and staging
for whatever response effort is needed following the storm's landfall early
Saturday morning," said Dwight Landreneau, LDWF secretary.
The 21st annual Hunting and Fishing Day events hosted by LDWF were
originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 24 in Minden, Monroe, Woodworth and
Baton Rouge.
Events rescheduled for Oct. 22 will feature all activities originally
planned.
BEAUREGARD PARISH MAN CITED FOR CLOSED SEASON DEER
HUNTING AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division
agents cited a Beauregard Parish man for allegedly shooting two deer during
a closed season and for obstruction of justice by destroying evidence on
Sept. 3.
Agents obtained information that Edward Andrew Bourriogue, 38, of Longville
had shot two deer out of season. An investigation led agents to the remains
of a doe and a fawn, which were recovered for evidence, and written
statements were collected from Bourriogue and witnesses. He was cited for
taking or possessing a spotted fawn and for taking deer during a closed
season. The charge for obstruction of justice stemmed from the destruction
of deer meat being stored at a residence in Jefferson Davis Parish. He was
arrested and booked into the Jefferson Davis Parish jail and later
extradited to Beauregard Parish.
Bourriogue faces fines of $500 to $750 and jail time between 15 and 30 days
plus court costs for taking or possessing a spotted fawn. The fine for
hunting or taking deer during a closed season is $900 to $950, jail time up
to 120 days, or both plus court costs and forfeiture of anything seized.
The maximum penalties for obstruction of justice are a $10,000 fine, five
years in jail with or without hard labor, or both and court costs.
In addition, Bourriogue will be assessed civil restitution for the
replacement value of each deer, which is $524.54 per deer, payable to LDWF.
Agents participating in the case were Sgts. Keith Aucoin, David Liles, and
David Sanford and Cadet Jason Stagg.
TWO WEST CARROLL PARISH MEN CITED FOR FISH SHOCKING
Enforcement agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
cited two West Carroll Parish men for illegal fishing activity on Bayou
Macon near Epps on Sept. 13.
Joseph Simms, 65, of Epps and James Hosea, 42, of Delhi were allegedly seen
using electronic equipment to shock fish and retrieving them with a dip net.
The men were charged with taking fish illegally. In addition, Simms failed
to comply with verbal commands and was charged with resisting officers.
Four cigarettes suspected to be marijuana were also discovered and delivered
to the crime lab for analysis.
If the men are convicted, the following penalties may be imposed for each
crime. Taking fish illegally carries fines of $400 to $750 and jail time up
to 120 days. Resisting an officer and possession of marijuana are both
punishable by fines up to $500 or jail time up to six months.
A boat with trailer, 25 horsepower outboard, four wheel drive vehicle, six
catfish, and all gear used to illegally take the fish were seized.
Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Scott Mathews, Sgt. Darren Bruce,
Sgt. Jamey Hagan, Senior Agent Wayne Parker, and Lt. Rick Owens.
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