HLS 15RS-860 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 438
BY REPRESENTATIVE LAMBERT
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
FISHING/CRAWFISH: Sets minimum size for live crawfish sold for direct human
consumption
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 3:556.15 and R.S. 56:330(D), relative to the sale of live crawfish; to provide
3 for a minimum size limit for live crawfish intended for direct human consumption;
4 to provide for penalties; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 3:556.15 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 §556.15. Crawfish; minimum size for sale for direct human consumption
8 No person shall sell, market, or purchase to sell for direct human
9 consumption or attempt to sell, market, or purchase to sell for direct human
10 consumption any live crawfish smaller than three and one-half inches measured from
11 the tip of the rostrum to the rear edge of the carapace. Any crawfish harvested or
12 captured that is smaller than three and one-half inches measured from the tip of the
13 rostrum to the rear edge of the carapace shall only be sold for use as bait or peelers.
14 In verifying compliance with the size limits contained in this Section, there shall be
15 a five percent allowance for undersized crawfish in each sack. Violations shall be
16 punished in the manner of a class two violation as provided in R.S. 56:32.
17 Section 2. R.S. 56:330(D) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
18 §330. Crawfish harvesters; crawfish traps
19 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-860 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 438
1 D. No person shall sell, market, or purchase to sell for direct human
2 consumption or attempt to sell, market, or purchase to sell for direct human
3 consumption any live crawfish smaller than three and one-half inches measured from
4 the tip of the rostrum to the rear edge of the carapace. Any crawfish harvested or
5 captured that is smaller than three and one-half inches measured from the tip of the
6 rostrum to the rear edge of the carapace shall only be sold for use as bait or peelers.
7 In verifying compliance with the size limits contained in this Section, there shall be
8 a five percent allowance for undersized crawfish in each sack. Violations shall be
9 class two violations punishable as provided in R.S. 56:32.
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 438 Original 2015 Regular Session Lambert
Abstract: Provides for a minimum size of live crawfish sold for direct human consumption.
Proposed law prohibits the sale or attempted sale, marketing, or purchase for sale of live
crawfish for direct human consumption that are smaller than 3-1/2 inches from the tip of the
rostrum to the rear edge of the carapace. Provides that any crawfish smaller than that can
only be sold for peelers or for use as bait. Allows a 5% variance of undersized crawfish in
each sack.
Proposed law provides that a class two violation is punishable as follows:
1st Offense 2nd Offense 3rd and
Subsequent
Offense
Class Two Violation $100 - $350
or
imprisonment
not more than
60 days, or both
$300 - $550
and
imprisonment
between 30 and
60 days
$500 - $750
and
imprisonment
between 60 and 90
days, and
forfeiture
(Adds R.S. 3:556.15 and R.S. 56:330(D))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.