HLS 15RS-956 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 140
BY REPRESENTATIVES LAMBERT AND ST. GERMAIN AND SENATOR WARD
FISHING/CRAWFISH: Urges the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to examine the
issue of a wild-caught crawfish fishing season
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to examine the issues involved
3 with establishment of a wild-caught crawfish fishing season.
4 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is constitutionally
5charged with the responsibility of protecting the natural resources of the state including the
6fish and wildlife that live in the state; and
7 WHEREAS, part of the responsibility of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is
8to protect and manage the fish and wildlife populations of the state while also providing an
9opportunity for the citizens of the state to engage in the hunting and fishing activities that
10are so elemental to the culture of Louisiana; and
11 WHEREAS, the Atchafalaya Basin has long been recognized for its commercial
12crawfish production that has provided thousands of jobs and millions of dollars to the state
13of Louisiana and the Atchafalaya Basin crawfish production has varied widely through the
14years; and
15 WHEREAS, wild-caught Atchafalaya Basin crawfish is a much desired product and
16a multimillion dollar industry in the state but there are few if any regulations concerning
17harvest seasons and the size of catch; and
18 WHEREAS, there have been no scientific studies conducted to determine the size
19and health of the breeding stock of crawfish in the Atchafalaya Basin and at the present time
20there is no specific fishing season set for the taking of wild-caught crawfish in the state of
21Louisiana; and
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HCR NO. 140
1 WHEREAS, setting a harvest season could be used to help manage the crawfish
2stock in a sustainable way taking into account the advent of modern technology and
3equipment; and
4 WHEREAS, in recent years the demand for crawfish has increased multifold and has
5created a situation where there are more fishermen resulting in more crawfish being
6harvested earlier each year and also later each year leading to an elongated season that could
7eventually harm the overall health and sustainability of the crawfish crop in Louisiana; and
8 WHEREAS, the elongated season could possibly lead to reduced breeding stock in
9future years and the lack of a scientifically based harvest season may have led to very small,
10immature crawfish finding their way into the marketplace which could also harm the overall
11market for crawfish throughout the state and country by diminishing the quality of the
12product; and
13 WHEREAS, many factors may be involved in the variation of the size of market
14crawfish including the mesh size used in crawfish traps that could result in harvesting
15smaller sized crawfish, the lack of a defined harvest season that could affect the size and
16sustainability of the wild-caught population, and water quality issues that could stunt growth.
17 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
18urge and request the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to examine all of the issues
19involved in the sustainability and harvest of wild-caught crawfish and the possibility of a
20wild-caught crawfish fishing season and to report findings of the examination, including any
21proposed legislation, to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and
22the Senate Committee on Natural Resources no later than February 15, 2016.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, as a
24part of their study, examine the trip tickets associated with crawfish to discover trends or
25data that could illuminate issues and could lead to management methods that would result
26in the increase of production of crawfish harvest throughout the crawfish season.
27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the
28secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
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HCR NO. 140
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)]
HCR 140 Original 2015 Regular Session Lambert
Requests the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries to examine the issue of a wild-caught crawfish
fishing season and report findings by February 15, 2016.
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