A Slidell man is in trouble with the law after being allegedly caught shrimping without any commercial licenses required to do so.
Adam Einck with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says 34-year-old Michael Daigle Jr. was cited on Sunday.
"We cited him on Sunday, December fifth in Plaquemines Parish near Venice," said Einck. "He was found commercial shrimping without the required commercial fishing licenses."
Agents say they seized more than 1,300 pounds of shrimp from Daigle’s vessel and the haul was sold to the highest bidder. If found guilty, Daigle faces a fine of up to $500 and 90 days in jail for each offense.
Einck says it doesn’t happen that often that fishermen will try to skirt the law without being in compliance to commercially fish unless properly licensed to do so. But, he says, "the opportunity is there and some people will take advantage of that opportunity."
Einck says Daigle could have increased his haul had not LDWF agents intervened when they did.
"In this case, our agents were there to stop the activity before it went any further," said Einck.
Einck says the money received when the shrimp were sold to the highest bidder will be returned to Daigle should he be found not guilty of the cited charges.
Daigle’s case has been forwarded to the Plaquemine Parish District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
