Although
this is a fiscal session, state legislators may each propose
up to five non-fiscal bills and a number of bills that affect
fisheries have already been introduced before the Natural
Resources Committees. These are briefly described here,
or visit www.legis.state.la.us
for more information. Contact your legislators to weigh
in on these issues.
Legislators Jack Smith and Karen St. Germain introduced
House Bill 311, which exempts the sale of wild-caught crawfish
from the trip ticket program for two years. It also requires
the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and the
Crawfish Task Force to meet during the two-year period to
develop a plan for applying the trip ticket program to the
sale of crawfish without overburdening the fishermen.
Legislators
Eddie Lambert, Jack Smith and Germain and Joe McPherson
introduced HB 327, which provides penalties for the intentional
concealment, destruction or deposit of fish, wildlife and
other animals that would affect a criminal proceeding.
Legislators
St. Germain, Mickey Frith, Wilfred Pierre, Gary Smith, Jack
Smith and McPherson introduced HB 329, adds skimmer nets
and butterfly nets to the list of gear that may be used
to take crabs; to the list of gear prohibited in Lake Des
Allemands, Lake Maurepas, Calcasieu Lake, Black Bayou, Grand
Bayou, Little Burton's Ditch, Lake Catherine and Lake Pontchartrain
Sanctuary; and prohibited at night in White Lake and Grand
Lake; and to the list of prohibited obstructions in inlets
and passes and near water control structures.
Rep.
Ken Odinet introduced HB 453, which makes the vessel monitoring
penalty for illegal taking of oysters consistent whether
the illegal taking be undersized oysters or taking from
leased acreage or public seed grounds.
Legislators
Pierre, Damon Baldone, William Daniel, St. Germain and Max
Malone introduced HB 330, which provides for fish stock
assessment reports on black drum, sheepshead, flounder and
mullet to be submitted biennially to the Legislature, and
it authorizes the submission, for Wildlife and Fisheries
Commission approval, of stock management regimes by LDWF.
The Commission will be required to monitor the fish species
and report biennially to the legislature relative to the
spawning potential ratio (SPR) and the biological condition
and profile of the species and stock assessment. If the
data indicate the SPR is below 30 percent, the department
must close the season within two weeks after the finding
is peer reviewed and confirmed, or it may provide management
options for Commission approval. The management options
must be derived from data that indicate a 50 percent chance
of recovery to the 30 percent SPR within 10 years or an
appropriate recovery period based on the biology of the
fish, environmental conditions and the needs of the fishing
communities.
Rep.
Lelon Kenney introduced HB 514, which exempts largemouth
bass from the current length limitation requirements. Present
law permits the purchase, sale or exchange of largemouth
bass fingerlings, not exceeding a maximum total length of
10 inches, brought into the state by and from legal and
certified out-of-state commercial fish hatcheries for sale
to Louisiana residents for stocking private and approved
public waters. HB 514 will allow largemouth bass of any
size brought into the state by these sources and for these
purposes.
Rep.
Jack Smith introduced HB 572, which requires the Louisiana
Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to provide for a minimum
issuance of 70,000 alligator hide tags per season to licensed
alligator hunters, and provides for a maximum return rate
of 6 percent of live alligators for alligator egg collectors.
Rep.
Ernest Wooton introduced HB 830, which establishes a fish
trawl gear license and provides for the requirements, restrictions
and regulations for use of such gear and the penalties for
violations.
Sen.
Chris Ullo introduced SB 123, which changes the termination
date of the Underwater Obstruction Removal Fund from June
30, 2007, to June 30, 2012.
Back
to Top |
