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Home > Current News > 2005

News: 2005

Commission Sets 2005 Seasons for Red Snapper and Other Reef Fishes
Posted: 1/5/05

Two declarations of emergency, one setting the 2005 recreational fishing season dates for red snapper and the other setting the 2005 commercial fishing season dates for red snapper and other reef fish, were issued by Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission at its Jan. 4 meeting, as recommended by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

The recreational fishing season for red snapper in Louisiana state waters will open at 12:01 a.m. April 21, 2005. The season will remain open until midnight Oct. 31 to coincide with season dates in federal waters. The size limit for red snapper taken by recreational fishermen will be 16 inches minimum total length, with a daily bag limit and possession limit of four fish per person.

The Commission also authorized Secretary Dwight Landreneau of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to change or modify opening and closing dates for the recreational red snapper season in Louisiana waters to comply with changes or modifications in season dates in federal waters.

The first commercial fishing season for red snapper will open at noon Feb. 1, 2005, and remain open until noon on Feb. 10. This pattern will continue each month until two-thirds of the 2005 commercial quota for red snapper is harvested. The second commercial red snapper season will open at noon Oct. 1, 2005, and remain open until noon Oct. 10. The pattern will also continue each month until the entire 2005 quota is harvested. The minimum size limit for commercially harvested red snapper is 15 inches total length.

The Commission also authorized Landreneau to change or modify opening and closing dates for the commercial red snapper season in Louisiana waters to comply with changes or modifications in season dates in federal waters.

The Commission authorized Landreneau to close the season for the commercial harvest of any species or group of species of reef fish in Louisiana state waters if he is informed by the regional administrator of National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) that the applicable commercial quota has been harvested in the Gulf of Mexico, and if he is requested by NMFS to enact compatible regulations in Louisiana state waters.

Landreneau was also authorized to reopen and close those commercial seasons in Louisiana state waters if the commercial season dates in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico are modified and NMFS requests that the season be modified in state waters.

The commission's actions ensure that regulations in state waters will complement regulations of the NMFS for federally managed waters. NMFS and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council typically request consistent regulations for Louisiana waters to enhance effectiveness and enforceability of regulations.

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