ENROLLED
Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 101
BY REPRESENTATIVE LEOPOLD
A RESOLUTION
To express and affirm the support and appreciation of the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana for the Gulf menhaden fishery and all of the economic and
social contributions that industry has made to the state through many years of
operation in the Gulf of Mexico and onshore in the coastal areas of the state.
WHEREAS the Gulf menhaden fishery industry generates an annual economic
impact of nearly eight hundred twenty-five million dollars to the economy of the state of
Louisiana; and
WHEREAS the Gulf menhaden fishery industry expends in excess of eighty million
dollars annually in purchases for materials and supplies from industry support vendors with
nearly sixty-five percent of those purchases made from other Louisiana businesses; and
WHEREAS the Gulf menhaden fishery industry provides over seven hundred
twenty-five jobs to citizens of the state of Louisiana with the salaries paid to those people
directly enhancing the economy of the state; and
WHEREAS the Gulf menhaden fishery industry indirectly creates and supports many
other good, high paying jobs throughout the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS the Gulf menhaden fishery is the largest fishery by volume in both the
state of Louisiana and the entire Gulf of Mexico; and
WHEREAS the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission declared in 2013 through
its SouthEast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR 32A) report that "the Gulf Menhaden
stock in the Gulf of Mexico is not undergoing overfishing and is not overfished"; and
WHEREAS independent data has shown clear trends of increasing biomass and
recruitment along with declining mortality in the Gulf menhaden stock over the last twenty
years; and ENROLLEDHR NO. 101
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS the recent stock assessment of Gulf menhaden found in the Gulf of
Mexico demonstrates that the fishery is being harvested and managed at a sustainable level
and will continue to employ Louisianians and contribute to the economy and well-being of
the state for many years to come.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana, that based on the fishery science established by the Gulf States
Marine Fisheries Commission, as a result of the responsible harvesting conducted by the
fishing community, the Gulf menhaden fishery industry is and will continue to be of great
value to our state, occupy a key role in job creation, and provide substantial positive
economic effect on our region.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature
of Louisiana does hereby express and affirm the support and appreciation for the Gulf
menhaden fishery and all of the economic and social contributions that industry has made
to the state through many years of operation in the Gulf of Mexico and onshore in the coastal
areas of the state.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES