Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents cited a Metairie man on Nov. 22 for allegedly shrimping in Lake Pontchartrain without his required Turtle Exclusion Device (TED).

Agents were patrolling in Lake Pontchartrain conducting a TED compliance patrol when they observed Roland Mollere Jr., 62, actively trawling in Lake Pontchartrain. Agents made contact with Mollere to perform a license compliance check and TED inspection.

During the inspection agents discovered that Mollere's gear was not equipped with the required TED. Mollere was issued a citation and his net was seized in relation to the violation.

Trawling without a TED brings up to a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail.

Shrimp trawlers in the Atlantic Area or Gulf Area need to have an approved TED installed in each net that is rigged for fishing. However, certain exemptions to these requirements may apply (e.g. vessels without power or mechanical means of net retrieval, test trawls, skimmer and butterfly nets in compliance with tow time restrictions).

Skimmer and butterfly nets are exempt from TED use; however, federal regulations require skimmer and butterfly net fishermen to limit tow times if they do not use TEDs. The tow time is measured from the time the cod-end of the net enters the water until it is removed from the water. Maximum tow times are 55 minutes from April 1 – Oct. 31 and increase to 75 minutes from Nov. 1 – March 31.

Agents participating in the case are Lt. Jason Russo, Sgt. Austin Arteaga and Sgt. Chuck Strain.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.la.gov. To receive recreational or commercial fishing email and text alerts, signup at http://www.wlf.la.gov/signup.