Two commercial fishermen were cited for alleged turtle excluder device violations in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, after enforcement agents found unapproved modifications to devices aboard their vessels.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents cited Brent Boudreaux, 62, and Thomas Ackman, 57, both of Morgan City, following separate vessel inspections in August, according to Louisiana Sportsman.

Agents were patrolling Oyster Bayou on Aug. 17 when they stopped a commercial fishing vessel operated by Boudreaux and inspected the turtle excluder devices, or TEDs, installed on the vessel’s skimmer nets.

During the inspection, agents alleged that the ends of the flaps on a double-cover TED had been tied using a crisscross method, which is not an approved modification.

Agents seized 155 pounds of shrimp from the vessel and sold the catch to the highest bidder, according to Louisiana Sportsman.

The following day, agents conducting patrols in the Gulf stopped another commercial fishing vessel and made contact with Ackman. During an inspection of the vessel’s skimmer nets, agents allegedly found plastic cable ties being used to hold the flaps of a TED closed.

The modification is also not permitted under TED regulations. Agents seized 18 pounds of shrimp and sold the catch to the highest bidder.

Both fishermen were cited for violating turtle excluder device regulations. A violation carries a fine of up to $350.

Turtle excluder devices are designed to allow sea turtles and other large animals to escape from shrimp trawls while retaining the target catch.