Two Montegut, Lousiana Men Arrested for Shrimp and Boating Violations

Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries 09.28.12

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents arrested and cited two men for alleged fishing and boating safety violations on the Pointe-Aux-Chenes Wildlife Management Area (WMA) on Sept. 26.

Agents cited Lance Billiot, 31, and Armando Brunett, 25, both of Montegut, for blocking passages of fish and taking shrimp with illegal gear. Armando Brunett was also cited for not possessing a boat registration certificate, no running lights, failure to comply with personal flotation device (PFD) requirements and no fire extinguisher.

While on patrol on the Pointe-Aux-Chenes WMA and Island Road, agents witnessed a net tied to the bridge just below the surface of the water in front of the water control structure blocking the waterway. Agents set up surveillance on the net.

A short time later, agents observed two subjects pick up the net from a vessel without lights. Agents stopped the men and found them to be in possession of the net, which contained 27 pounds of shrimp caught illegally. Agents placed the men under arrest and booked them into the Terrebonne Parish Correctional Facility.

Blocking the passage of fish and taking shrimp with illegal gear carries a fine from $250 to $500 and up to 90 days in jail for each offense. Failing to be in possession of a boat registration certificate, no running lights, no fire extinguisher and failing to comply with PFD requirements carry a $50 fine and up 15 days in jail for each offense.

Agents involved in the case were Senior Agent Michael Williams, Senior Agent Nick Guillory and Senior Agent Michael Marques.

Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries – Enforcement Division(LDWF) is the fish & game regulatory agency of Louisiana. It has jurisdictionanywhere in the state, and in state territorial waters. The agency enforces both state and federal laws dealing with hunting, fishing, and boating safety. The agency also enforces criminal laws in rural areas including DWI enforcement both on highways and waterways. Most of the Department’s Wildlife Agents also carry Federal law enforcement commissions issued from the United States Department of the Interior - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and United States Department of Commerce - U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). These federal commissions allow these state officers to enforce federal migratory waterfowl laws and federal marine fisheries laws in state and federal waters off the coast of Louisiana. Besides their traditional role as a “game warden”, Louisiana Wildlife Enforcement Agents also have a number of other responsibilities, including conducting board of health inspections on some portions of the state’s commercial fishing industry. Agents are trained in and conduct numerous search and rescue operations, both in remote land areas and on the state’s waterways. Agents ensure that hunters, anglers, boaters, dealers, breeders, farmers, and transporters are in compliance with regulations governing equipment, quotas, licenses, and registrations. Agents also assist other State departments and law enforcement agencies in the coordination of educational and professional endeavors, as well as national and state emergency alerts by the Federal Office of Emergency Preparedness. In addition, agents perform search and rescue missions alone or in conjunction with other local, state, and federal agencies.