The crew of a cargo ship is facing a myriad of charges in connection after it was found his vessel had illegally caught 348 pounds of red snapper.
The bust was made June 19 when the ship put into port at Reserve. Agricutlure Specialists with the Customs and Border Protection Agency boarded the ship and discovered the fish packed into the ships refrigerator and freezers.
The agents learned the fish were taken from an area six miles out of southwest pass. The crew was charged with possessing more than their limit of red snappers, angling without a non-resident license, and angling without a saltwater non-resident license. The fish were turned over to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) commission.
“This seizure exemplifies the agriculture specialists’ dedication to the protection of the Louisiana agriculture industry,” said Kendall P. Gaines, a Supervisory CBP Agriculture Specialist.
Red snapper is a protected species, according to the 2018 stock assessment of South Atlantic red snapper, because it has a history of being overfished. Stocks of red snapper are in the process of being rebuilt in the Gulf of Mexico, a process that could take until 2032.
Fishermen are limited two red snappers per licensed fisherman, and the snapper must be 16 inches or larger. Fishermen must also have a valid permit to harvest red snappers. Violating these regulations can result in fines or even jail time.