This report represents some events the FWC handled Jan. 5-11 in the North Central Region. (No cases were reported in Wakulla County and the Northwest Region)
DIXIE COUNTY
- Lieutenant Ward conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that did not display a license plate. The vehicle, which was not be registered, was operated and occupied by subjects known to Lieutenant Ward as commercial oyster harvesters. Officer Specialist Robson and Troiano arrived to assist. During the stop, it was found that the subjects had six bushels of oysters located in the trunk of the car. Lieutenant Ward issued a traffic citation to the driver of the unregistered vehicle. Officers Robson and Troiano continued to investigate the oyster harvest and will file additional charges with the State Attorney’s Office..
DUVAL COUNTY
- Officer Schirbock responded after midnight to a call to assist Neptune Beach Police Department with a vehicle stop they had conducted with occupants who had been hunting Canada geese. The officers observed a bow in the subject’s vehicle and found a goose that had been harvested. During an interview with the subjects, one admitted to shooting the goose. The subject was issued a citation for shooting a Canada goose in violation of legal shooting hours.
LEVY COUNTY
- Officers Smith and Dean had responded to complaints about commercial oyster harvesters in prohibited waters in the creeks around Suwannee Sound. These waters are closed to harvest to protect the public from harmful bacteria in the shellfish. Officer Smith and Dean worked with FWC Pilot Derse and Officer VanNess who were in the air surveying the area. The air unit located a subject harvesting oysters in a creek in prohibited waters. Officers Smith and Dean went to the location provided by the air unit and observed a vessel with two subjects on board. The harvested oysters were piled on the culling board. Officers Smith and Dean arrested the violators for commercially harvesting oysters in prohibited waters.
