A Metairie man has found himself on the wrong side of the law, cited for several commercial fishing violations by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents. Dominic Messina, 23, was charged for failing to possess the proper gear licenses and for not adhering to logbook protocols while harvesting oysters in Plaquemines Parish.
During a patrol in Bay Lanoux on March 26, a keen-eyed LDWF agent observed Messina actively engaged in oyster collection. An inspection revealed that not only had Messina neglected to document his harvest on the Harvester Log Sheet, but he was also lacking any commercial gear licenses. Following the discovery, agents returned 29 sacks of seized oysters back to their aquatic home, as per a statement from the LDWF.
The encounter in Bay Lanoux was not to be an isolated incident. On April 1, LDWF agents conducting their patrol duties near Wilkinson Bay once again came upon Messina, who, having not learned from the past mishap, was yet again dredging for oysters without the necessary gear licenses. In response to the repeated infraction, a hefty 316 sacks of oysters were seized and subsequently released into the bay, as reported by the LDWF.
The action of harvesting commercial fish without a proper gear license can fetch a fine ranging between $250 and $500, in addition to up to 90 days in jail. The slip-up with logbook requirements may seem less severe, holding a penalty of up to a $25 fine and the forfeiture of any seized goods, as was the case when agents seized Messina's oysters for returning them to water, according to the LDWF's citation details. LDWF's enforcement efforts were executed by a team that included Corporal Shea Schexnaydre, Senior Agent Heather Fitzgerald, and Senior Agent Joshua Schilling, ensuring the sustainability of the oyster fisheries remains intact for the state of Louisiana.
