HLS 10RS-378 ORIGINAL
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE BILL NO. 887
BY REPRESENTATIVES ST. GERMAIN AND DOVE AND SENATOR N.
GAUTREAUX
FISHING/FINFISH: Provides relative to management protocols to be followed by the Dept.
of Wildlife and Fisheries for certain finfish
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 56:325.4(D), relative to finfish; to provide relative to submission2
of stock assessment reports; to authorize the development of stock management3
regimes for black drum, flounder, and sheepshead for approval by the Wildlife and4
Fisheries Commission; and to provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 56:325.4(D) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:7
ยง325.4. Commercial taking of other saltwater finfish; exceptions; mesh size8
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D.(1) The commission shall monitor and evaluate the condition of the black10
drum, sheepshead, and flounder species in Louisiana waters. A peer reviewed report11
of the findings of the evaluation shall be submitted biennially to the legislature no12
later than March first of each even-numbered year evenly divisible by five. The13
report shall contain the following information for each species:14
(a) The spawning potential ratio.15
(b) A biological condition and profile of the species and stock assessment.16
(2) If the report shows data indicates that the spawning potential ratio is17
below thirty percent, the department shall, within two weeks after such finding is18
confirmed, close the season within two weeks for a period of at least one year, or19 HLS 10RS-378 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 887
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
shall provide, for the commission's consideration, management options derived from1
data that indicate that the spawning potential ratio is estimated to have at least a fifty2
percent chance of recovery to a thirty percent ratio within ten years or some other3
appropriate recovery period based on the biology of the stock of the fish,4
environmental conditions, and the needs of the fishing communities.5
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
St. Germain HB No. 887
Abstract: Authorizes the submission, for Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approval, of
stock management regimes for black drum, sheepshead, and flounder by the Dept.
of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Present law requires the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to make biennial reports to the
legislature no later than March 1 on black drum, sheepshead, and flounder. The reports are
to provide the spawning potential ratio (SPR) and the biological condition and profile of the
species and stock assessment. Requires that if the report shows the SPR is below 30%, the
department shall close the season within two weeks for at least one year.
Proposed law provides that stock assessment reports are to be submitted in years evenly
divisible by five and provides that if the data indicate the SPR is below 30%, the department
shall close the season within two weeks after the finding is confirmed or may provide
management options for commission approval. Provides that the management options be
derived from data that indicate a 50% chance of recovery to the 30% 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.
(Amends R.S. 56:325.4(D))