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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 440
BY REPRESENTATIVES HARRISON, DOVE, BERTHELOT, BILLIOT, WESLEY
BISHOP, BROWN, COX, GI SCLAIR, REYNOLDS, SCHEXNAYDER,
THIERRY, WHITNEY, AND PATRICK WILLIAMS
FISHING/SHRIMP: Provides relative to size and configuration of skimmer nets
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 56:499(B) and (C), relative to shrimping trawls and skimmer2
nets; to provide relative to the size and configuration of skimmer nets; and to provide3
for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. R.S. 56:499(B) and (C) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as6
follows:7
ยง499. Trawls, butterfly, and skimmer nets, and cast nets; size of mesh; length;8
diameter of butterfly and skimmer nets extensions; prohibited devices9
* * *10
B.(1) No person shall take saltwater shrimp with any trawl, skimmer net, or11
butterfly net with a mesh size less than five-eighths of an inch square or one and one-12
fourth of an inch stretched. No trawl, skimmer net, or butterfly net may be used in13
closed waters.14
(2) No person shall use a double butterfly net having an individual net frame15
more than twelve feet measured horizontally or vertically, whichever distance is16
greater, each or a single stationary butterfly net having an individual net frame17
greater than twenty-two feet measured horizontally or vertically, whichever distance18
is greater, except that persons on a vessel may use a double butterfly net having19 HLS 14RS-715 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 440
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individual net frames of not more than sixteen feet measured horizontally or twelve1
feet measured vertically, each. A skimmer or butterfly net may be mounted no more2
than twenty-four inches from the side of the vessel. Operation of butterfly and3
skimmer nets shall in no way impede or restrict normal navigation.4
(3) No person on a vessel shall use a double skimmer net having an5
individual net frame more than sixteen feet measured horizontally or twelve feet6
measured vertically or twenty feet measured diagonally. Reinforcement framing that7
may be attached to the net frame shall not be considered in determining the8
dimensions of a double skimmer net. No person shall use a double skimmer net shall9
have a lead line with an opening measuring more than twenty-eight seventy-two feet10
in circumference for each net and a lead line greater than thirty-three feet. No person11
shall tie individual skimmer nets together to exceed the herein stated specifications12
contained in this Paragraph or use any trawl in conjunction with a butterfly or13
skimmer. No person shall use a double skimmer net where the horizontal net frame14
extends more than twenty feet from the gunwale of the vessel. Operation of butterfly15
and skimmer nets shall in no way impede or restrict normal navigation. A skimmer16
or butterfly net may be mounted no more than twenty-four inches from the side of17
the vessel.18
(2) (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection19
to the contrary, no person shall take saltwater shrimp with a trawl, skimmer net, or20
butterfly net with a mesh size of less than five-eighths of an inch square or one and21
one-fourth of an inch stretched in inside waters during the fall inshore shrimp season,22
except in that portion of the state's inside waters from the Atchafalaya River west to23
the western shore of Vermilion Bay and Southwest Pass at Marsh Island, mesh size24
shall be no less than three-quarters of an inch square or one and one-half of an inch25
stretched may be used in inside waters during the fall inshore shrimp season.26
C. No person shall use sweeper devices, leads, extensions, wings, or other27
attachments in conjunction with or attached to butterfly nets or skimmer nets.28
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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)]
Harrison HB No. 440
Abstract: Alters the size and configuration limitations for double skimmer nets.
Present law, relative to skimmer nets, prohibits the use of double skimmer nets with a frame
more than 16 ft. measured horizontally or 12 ft. measured vertically or 20 ft. measured
diagonally. Prohibits the use of a double skimmer with a lead line greater than 28 ft.
Proposed law limits the size of a double skimmer to no larger than a 72 ft. opening and a
lead line no more than 33 ft.
Present law prohibits a person from tying individual skimmer nets to exceed the size
limitation for double skimmers. Proposed law retains this prohibition.
Present law prohibits the mounting of a skimmer net or butterfly net more than 24 in. from
the side of the vessel. Proposed law repeals present law.
Proposed law further prohibits the use of a double skimmer net where the horizontal net
frame extends more than 20 ft. from the gunwale of the vessel.
Present law prohibits a person from using sweeper devices, leads, extensions, wings, or other
attachments in conjunction with or attached to butterfly nets or skimmer nets. Proposed law
retains this prohibition for butterfly nets but repeals it for skimmers.
(Amends R.S. 56:499(B) and (C))