07-24-2004, 04:02 AM
[font "Arial"]While working under a Joint Enforcement Agreement (JEA) with the National Marine Fisheries Service, agents from the Special Investigations Unit of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division initiated charges on Qui Van Tran, 26, of Cameron, for allegedly taking over the limit of cobia and violating federal law by taking red snapper without a required federal permit and taking red snapper in closed season. [/font]
On July 2, agents boarded the fishing vessel Richard II at Cameron Fish House in Cameron. Upon inspection of the vessel, agents discovered a hidden compartment used to allegedly smuggle red snapper. The compartment was found to contain 11 cobia weighing 228 pounds and 1,343 pounds of red snapper. It was determined through interviews with the captain and crew that a four-member crew was on board during the fishing trip. Louisiana law allows the sale of two cobia per licensed commercial fisherman aboard a commercial vessel. Upon further investigation it was discovered the vessel had no valid class 1 red snapper permit allowing the captain to catch and sell red snapper. It was also determined that the captain had started fishing prior to the opening of the July red snapper season.
The penalty for over the limit of cobia is a fine of up to $350, jail for not more than 60 days, or both plus court costs. Penalties for taking red snapper without a federal permit, a violation of the Magnusson Stevens Act, are fines of up to $120,000 per day per count.
Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Jay Diez and Sr. Agent Billy Gomillion.
For more information, contact Maj. Keith LaCaze at 225/765-2469 [url "mailto:klacaze@wlf.louisiana.gov"]klacaze@wlf.louisiana.gov
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On July 2, agents boarded the fishing vessel Richard II at Cameron Fish House in Cameron. Upon inspection of the vessel, agents discovered a hidden compartment used to allegedly smuggle red snapper. The compartment was found to contain 11 cobia weighing 228 pounds and 1,343 pounds of red snapper. It was determined through interviews with the captain and crew that a four-member crew was on board during the fishing trip. Louisiana law allows the sale of two cobia per licensed commercial fisherman aboard a commercial vessel. Upon further investigation it was discovered the vessel had no valid class 1 red snapper permit allowing the captain to catch and sell red snapper. It was also determined that the captain had started fishing prior to the opening of the July red snapper season.
The penalty for over the limit of cobia is a fine of up to $350, jail for not more than 60 days, or both plus court costs. Penalties for taking red snapper without a federal permit, a violation of the Magnusson Stevens Act, are fines of up to $120,000 per day per count.
Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Jay Diez and Sr. Agent Billy Gomillion.
For more information, contact Maj. Keith LaCaze at 225/765-2469 [url "mailto:klacaze@wlf.louisiana.gov"]klacaze@wlf.louisiana.gov
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