HLS 15RS-916 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 198
BY REPRESENTATIVE ST. GERMAIN
FISHING/CRABS: Increases fees for participation in the commercial crab fishery
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 56:305(B)(2), relative to commercial crab fishing; to increase
3 the fees for participation in the commercial crab fishery; to increase the dedications
4 to certain accounts from the funds collected by the crab trap gear license; to
5 authorize a tag fee for crab trap identification tags; to establish an exception to the
6 senior commercial fishing license exemption; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 56:305(B)(2) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 ยง305. Commercial gear license; issuance to certain nonresidents prohibited;
10 moratorium on certain new gear licenses; renewals
11 * * *
12 B. Residents shall pay a commercial gear fee as follows:
13 * * *
14 (2) Crab traps: thirty-five fifty dollars to use any legal number of crab traps
15 for the privilege of using crab traps to fish commercially. In addition to the
16 commercial gear license fee set forth in this Paragraph, if the commission
17 implements a buoy tagging system for identification of the owners of crab traps, a
18 fee not to exceed two dollars per tag may be levied by the department. An amount
19 equal to five ten dollars from each commercial crab trap gear license shall be
20 credited to the Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program Account as provided in R.S.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-916 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 198
1 56:10(B)(13), and an amount equal to five ten dollars from each commercial crab
2 trap license shall be credited to the Crab Promotion and Marketing Account as
3 provided in R.S. 56:10(B)(1)(e). Any resident who holds a senior commercial
4 fishing license shall be exempt from the provisions of this Paragraph. However, any
5 person who holds a senior commercial fishing license shall not be exempt from
6 payment for a buoy tag.
7 * * *
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)]
HB 198 Original 2015 Regular Session St. Germain
Abstract: Increases the fees for participation in the commercial crab fishery and increases
the dedications to the Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program and the Crab Promotion
and Marketing Account.
Present law provides for a $35 commercial crab trap gear license fee for any number of legal
crab traps. Dedicates $5 from each license to the Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program
Account and $5 to the Crab Promotion and Marketing Account. Exempts residents who hold
a senior commercial fishing license.
Proposed law increases the gear license fee from $35 to $50. Increases the two dedications
from $5 to $10 each. Authorizes a tag fee of up to $2 per tag if the Wildlife and Fisheries
Commission implements a buoy tagging system for identification of the owners of crab
traps. Specifies that while holders of a commercial senior fishing license are exempt from
the gear fee, they are not exempt from the tag fee.
(Amends R.S. 56:305(B)(2))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.