A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) agent issued citations to a man in St. Mary Parish for multiple commercial fishing violations. The individual, identified as 33-year-old Dustin Hebert of Pierre Part, fell afoul of regulations, including operating without a commercial gear license and failing to properly tag his nets, as reported by a recent LDWF news release.
On Thursday, November 13, LDWF agent Savannah Lavergne, while on patrol, came across Hebert actively setting a gill net into the water. Upon making contact, she discovered that not only did he lack the necessary commercial fishing license, but he also didn’t have a commercial gear license. Compounding the matter, Hebert was found operating a vessel despite an active license suspension. According to the LDWF statement, during her inspection, Agent Lavergne further learned that Hebert’s nets were untagged and that he was disregarding the suspension of his license by operating the vessel.
The consequences of these violations can lead to significant fines and possible imprisonment. Specifically, Hebert faces a fine between $250 and $500, and potentially up to 90 days in jail for each offense related to taking commercial fish without a commercial gear license and failing to tag nets. Operating a vessel during a license suspension could cost him an additional $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days behind bars, the statement outlined.
Agent Lavergne, in an effort to mitigate damage to the local fish population, seized Hebert's catch and released it back into the water alive, which could be seen as a symbolic gesture toward conservation in the face of regulatory defiance. The LDWF uses such enforcement actions to reinforce the importance of sustainable fishing practices and adherence to regulations designed to protect both the environment and the livelihoods of legally operating commercial fishers.
