Gulf States Work With Offshore Industries to Curb Illegal Fishing

Three Men Cited for Illegal Alligator Hunting

Commercial King Mackerel Season to Close October 4

Teal Hunters Nabbed for Violations

Baton Rouge Seafood Dealer and Recreational Fisherman Charged with Felony Violations

Hunters Cited for Baited Field Hunt

Monroe Man Cited for Exceeding Mourning Dove Limit

Cameron Man Cited for Fraudulent Shrimp Sales

Commercial Fisheries Investigation Yields Citations

O.G.T. Receives $1000 From Violators

Wildlife Agents Rescue Stroke Victim

GULF STATES WORK WITH OFFSHORE INDUSTRIES TO CURB ILLEGAL FISHING

The five Gulf States working under a cooperative enforcement initiative between the states natural resource enforcement agencies, including Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office for Enforcement (NOAA/OLE) are teaming with the Gulf Safety Committee to increase awareness of fishing regulations and help identify illegal fishing activity within the Gulf of Mexico.

The Gulf Safety Committee is made up of oil and gas industry representative, transportation companies, recreational and commercial fishermen, regulatory agencies and other offshore businesses. The Gulf Safety Committee provides a forum where the experience, issues and concerns of all Gulf of Mexico waterway stakeholders, users and regulators can be expressed to make the Gulf of Mexico a cleaner, safer and a more secure and economically viable region for commercial and recreational use.

The groups are forwarding information to all of the manned offshore rig facilities and transportation companies to educate personnel on how to report fisheries violations to the nearest state resource enforcement agency by using a 24-hour gulf wide telephone number, 1-866-WE ENFORCE (1-866-933-6367). Other information on seasons, regulations, size requirements and other restrictions, along with news releases for violation announcements will also be made available to the offshore workers to increase their education of fisheries regulations.

LDWF Major Jeff Mayne, chairman of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission's Law Enforcement Committee and member of the executive steering board on the Gulf Safety Committee commented, "This is a model community-oriented policing project; industry is communicating and working with multi-agency law enforcement organizations to protect our living marine resources for future generations."

This cooperative effort will help law enforcement identify potential fisheries violations and any other suspicious activity that needs to be reported to law enforcement officials to help maintain a safe and enjoyable environment.

THREE MEN CITED FOR ILLEGAL ALLIGATOR HUNTING

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement agents have cited three men for allegedly illegally killing an alligator in the summer of 2002. Acting on an anonymous tip, enforcement agents began an investigation of the year-old offense on September 21 of this year.

According to the information provided, Eddy L. Bevins III, 20, of Oak Grove was in possession of parts of an alligator he had killed illegally. Investigating wildlife enforcement agents questioned Bevins and recovered the head and hide of the illegally hunted alligator. In addition to Bevins, Peyton Alfred Rawls III, 20, of Pioneer and John Brandon Sullivan, 20, of Forest, were all cited for taking an alligator during closed season, taking an alligator without a license, possessing an untagged alligator, not abiding by alligator rules and regulations, and illegal possession of an alligator hide.

Information gathered during the investigation revealed that the three subjects participated in the illegal kill in August of 2002 at night, on Big Lake in Tensas Parish. The untagged alligator hide and head were seized and are being held as evidence in the case.

The penalties for taking alligators during closed season and illegal possession of an alligator hide are fines of up to $750, jail for not more 120 days, or both, plus court costs. Taking alligators without a license is punishable by a fine of up to $500, jail for not more than 90 days, or both, plus court costs. Possessing untagged alligators carries a fine of up to $750, jail not for more than 120 days, or both, plus court costs. Not abiding by alligator rules and regulations has a fine of up to $350, jail for no more than 60 days, or both, plus court costs.

Agents participating in the case are Sgt. Scott Mathews and Senior Agents James Hagan, Billy Richardson, Darren Bruce, and Brian Rawls.

COMMERCIAL KING MACKEREL SEASON TO CLOSE OCT. 4

The commercial season for king mackerel in Louisiana waters will close at 12:00 noon on Saturday, October 4. The decision to extend the season one additional week was made by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary James H. Jenkins Jr., as authorized by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. Acting on information from LDWF biologists, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, Jenkins signed a declaration of emergency for the closure.

The closure of the commercial king mackerel fishery in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico closed at noon on Wednesday, September 24, 2003. Each year, a commercial quota (3.26 million pounds) is established for Gulf group king mackerel by NMFS based on recommendations by the Gulf and South Atlantic Fishery Councils. That figure is then divided into eastern (2.25 million pounds) and western (1.01 million pounds) gulf zones. According to the best information available, the 1.01 million pound commercial quota of king mackerel for the western zone will have been harvested by September 24.

TEAL HUNTERS NABBED FOR VIOLATIONS

On September 13, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited two men in Terrebonne Parish for violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The violations occurred on the opening day of the teal season. Billy Skipper, 70, of Pierre Part, and Hershel Blood, 49, of Centerville, were allegedly observed by the agents hunting teal over a baited pond in the Swing Bayou area of Terrebonne Parish. The men were also in possession of 30 blue winged teal, 22 over the daily limit of four per person.

The baited pond was discovered earlier the same week, when agents were alerted to the pond by an unusual concentration of teal. A bait sample of milo grain was taken and held for evidence. After the hunt, the agents found more milo in the pond.

Under current federal law, it is illegal to hunt migratory game birds with the use of bait. A baited area remains illegal to hunt until 10 days after the last grain of bait is gone.

Skipper and Blood were issued federal citations for hunting ducks over a baited area and for taking over the limit of teal. Both offenses are violations of the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and are punishable by a fine of up to $5000, up to six months in jail, or both. Agents involved in this case were Lt. Sammy Martin, Sr. Agts. Chad Hebert, Brett Hymel and Max Dupre.

BATON ROUGE SEAFOOD DEALER AND RECREATIONAL FISHERMAN CHARGED WITH FELONY VIOLATIONS

While working under a Joint Enforcement Agreement between the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Law Enforcement Division and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office for Enforcement, LDWF's Special Investigative Unit made several arrests involving a scheme to illegally sell recreationally caught fish to a commercial wholesale seafood dealer. Alan P. Porche, 41, of Baton Rouge, manager of Gulf Island Shrimp and Seafood LLC, and previous owner of Big River Seafood Inc., was arrested on September 17 by enforcement agents for obstruction of justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice, money laundering, forgery, filing/maintaining false public records, injuring public records, felony theft, purchasing fish from recreational fishermen, illegally selling recreationally caught fish, failure to maintain records, failure to report commercial fishery information and violating Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission rules and regulations. The maximum penalties for these violations exceed $50,000 in fines and 20 years imprisonment at hard labor.

The alleged offenses against Porche result from an elaborate scheme of fraudulent financial transactions involving proceeds derived from illegally purchased red snapper, cobia, reef fish and other managed fish caught and sold by recreational fishermen. Proceeds in the scheme were derived from allegedly committing forgery and falsifying records designed to generate money, conceal and disguise the nature and source of the purchases and avoid reporting requirements that provide management guidelines to conserve the resources.

Also arrested in connection with the alleged scheme were two recreational fishermen. John P. Hagmann, 42, of Prairieville was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison for conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice, failure to maintain records, selling fish without commercial fishing licenses, selling fish caught recreationally and failing to abide by LWFC rules and regulations. Hagmann also faces fines of up to $50,000 and 20 years imprisonment at hard labor. George H. Donaldson Jr., 36, of St. Amant was arrested and booked with selling fish without commercial licenses, selling fish caught recreationally, failure to maintain records and violating commission rules and regulations. The fines for these violations can add up to $1,000 and a year imprisonment. Other recreational fishermen are also involved in the investigation and will be processed in the near future.

"This case identifies the type of activity that can not be tolerated if we are to conserve our fisheries resources for future generations," said LDWF Enforcement Division administrator Colonel Winton Vidrine. "This case also highlights the positive impact state and federal partnerships can have when teamed together to achieve a common goal." Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Jay Diez, Sr. Agents Billy Gomillion, Buck Hampton and Cadet Joel Cromp.

HUNTERS CITED FOR BAITED FIELD HUNT

On September 6, agents of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division cited several persons for allegedly hunting migratory game birds (doves) over a baited area on the Charles Simons property in Caldwell Parish. Cited during the investigation were Thomas Simons, 64, Charles Simons, 60, and John Rentz, 46, of Columbia, Jared Finley, 19, and Charles Finley, 51, of Grayson, and John Corley, 54, of Simsboro. Charles Simons was also cited for aiding and abetting others in the hunting of migratory game birds over a baited area.

Hunting migratory game birds over a baited area is a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, punishable by fines of up to $5,000 and other penalties including possible loss of hunting privileges, administered through the Federal court system. Agents participating in the case were Lt. John Rhodes, Sgt. Gary Watts, Sgt. Michael Wilson, and Senior Agent David Henslee.

MONROE MAN CITED FOR EXCEEDING MOURNING DOVE LIMIT

Randall B. DeBruhl, 33, of Monroe was cited on September 13 for allegedly taking over the limit of mourning doves. DeBruhl was checked by agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement division when he was found hunting at about 9:45 a.m. on Shaw Farms in south Madison Parish. He had 24 doves in his possession. The daily bag limit for mourning doves is 12. He was issued a summons to appear in Federal Court. The doves were seized and donated to charity. Possessing over the daily bag limit of doves is a violation of the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, punishable by fines of up to $5,000 and probation with conditions including loss of hunting privileges. Agents participating in the case were Sergeants Michael Wilson, Larry May and Cecil Wells.

CAMERON MAN CITED FOR FRAUDULENT SHRIMP SALES

A two-month-long investigation by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents working in conjunction with the Cameron Parish Sheriff's Office and the Louisiana Department of Public Health has culminated with the arrest of a Cameron man. Ray Paul McDaniel, owner of Fresh American Shrimp in Cameron, was arrested on charges, which include theft by fraud, obstruction of justice, injuring public records, and failing to maintain records. McDaniel was arrested and cited after he allegedly knowingly sold tainted shrimp to several consumers. Complaints from different sources claimed that the shrimp were sold fraudulently in respect to the pounds purchased as well as the quality of the shrimp. Further investigation led to the seizure of several thousand pounds of shrimp by Department of Health officials. After laboratory testing, these shrimp were later taken from the establishment and destroyed due to the shrimp being unfit for human consumption.

Obstruction of justice is punishable by fines of not more than $10,000, up to five years in prison with or without hard labor, or both. Injuring public records is punishable by a fine of not more than $5000, up to five years in prison with or without hard labor, or both. Theft by fraud is punishable by fines of not more than $2000, up to two years in prison, or both. Failure to maintain records is a class three violation punishable by fines of up to $500, jail for not more than 90 days, or both, plus court costs.

The cases will be heard before Judge Ward Fontenot in the 38th district court in Cameron. Involved in the case were Lieutenants Larry Breaux, Glenn Angelle, and Jesse Savoie, Sgt. Remy Broussard, and Senior Agents Chris Harp, David Liles, and Jim Matkin.

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES INVESTIGATION YIELDS CITATIONS

On August 14, Gillray Patin, 49, and Sharon Patin, 47, residents of Henderson in St. Martin Parish and proprietors of Bonanza Crawfish, Inc. were jointly cited after a month-long investigation with 30 felony violations for injuring public records, filing false records and obstruction of justice. They were also cited for 36 misdemeanor counts of buying crawfish from unlicensed commercial fishermen and failing to maintain records. The investigation uncovered over 32 tons of crawfish taken from the wild and unreported to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries from January to July of 2003. Eighteen commercial fishermen who sold to Bonanza Crawfish Inc. were cited with a total of 85 misdemeanor counts for selling crawfish without a commercial license, failing to maintain records and transporting commercial fish without required licenses.

The violation of buying commercial fish from an unlicensed fisherman carries a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for 30 days. In addition, the license under which the violation occurred shall be revoked and shall not be reinstated at any time during the period for which it was issued and for one year thereafter. Selling commercial fish without commercial licenses and transporting without required licenses carry fines of up to $500, jail for not more than 90 days, or both plus court costs. Injuring public records and filing or maintaining false public records carry penalties of imprisonment for not more than five years with or without hard labor, a fine of not more than $5,000 or both. Obstruction of justice carries a fine of not more than $10,000, imprisonment for not more than five years with or without hard labor or both.

Sgt. James D. Rhodes conducted the investigation for the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division.

O.G.T. RECEIVES $1000 FROM VIOLATORS

On September 8, 21st Judicial District Court Judge Doug Hughes accepted guilty pleas from two individuals charged in unrelated wildlife cases. And as part of their sentencing, Judge Hughes ordered the men to each pay $500 to Operation Game Thief.

Gary Hoyt of Denham Springs pled guilty to charges of hunting deer during illegal hours, hunting from a public road, and hunting from a moving vehicle. He was ordered to pay $500 to OGT and sentenced to one year of probation. He was also ordered to pay court costs, probation fees and public defender fees totaling $625.

Kevin Moran of Livingston Parish pled guilty to illegally taking a spotted fawn. He was ordered to pay $500 to OGT, $625 in court costs and will have to make restitution to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for $524.54, the value of the illegally taken deer.

OGT is a non-profit corporation managed by volunteer sportsmen. They meet quarterly to review wildlife violation cases resulting from information provided by program participants, and to determine and dispense reward amounts. Since the program began, more than $120,000 in reward money has been paid.

If anyone has witnessed or has information about a wildlife violation, they may call Operation Game thief at 1-800-442-2511. They may choose to remain anonymous and receive a reward of up to $1000 if the information results in an arrest. They may also now make a report online at http://www.wlf.state.la.us/ogtonline.htm.

WILDLIFE AGENTS RESCUE STROKE VICTIM

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents assisted in the rescue of a stroke victim, contributing to an effort which may have saved his life. While patrolling in Sister Lake in Terrebonne Parish on September 16, Lieutenant Sammy Martin and Senior Agent Thomas Dewitt were alerted to a medical emergency on board a nearby oyster boat. The agents responded, and utilizing their training as certified medical First Responders, they assessed the victim, John Verdin of Houma, and suspected that he was suffering from a stroke. The agents determined that immediate advanced medical treatment was needed. Due to the remote location and the immediate need for medical care, the agents transferred Verdin to their patrol boat and rushed him to a dock in Dularge.

The emergency was communicated to members of the Dularge Fire Department and Acadian Ambulance's Air Med, who were standing by when the agents arrived with Verdin. He was flown to Chabert Medical Center for treatment, and is currently in stable condition.