HLS 17RS-855 ORIGINAL 2017 Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO. 156 BY REPRESENTATIVE DWIGHT Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana. FISHING/OYSTERS: Provides for the gear authorized for oyster harvest on Calcasieu Lake and Sabine Lake 1 AN ACT 2To amend and reenact R.S. 56:435.1(A) and 435.1.1(A)(2) and (C), relative to oyster harvest 3 in Calcasieu Lake and Sabine Lake; to provide for the gear authorized for oyster 4 harvest on Calcasieu Lake and Sabine Lake; and to provide for related matters. 5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: 6 Section 1. R.S. 56:435.1(A) and 435.1.1(A)(2) and (C) are hereby amended and 7reenacted to read as follows: 8 §435.1. Sabine Lake; methods of harvest; penalty; season; self-propelled vessels; 9 harvested oysters 10 A. Oysters may be harvested in Sabine Lake using only tongs. , a hand 11 scraper, or a single scraper with mechanical assist with a flat bar length of no more 12 than thirty-six inches. 13 * * * 14 §435.1.1. Oyster harvest in Calcasieu Lake 15 A. 16 * * * 17 (2) Such permit shall be in addition to all other licenses and permits required 18 for harvesting of oysters. At all times, such oyster harvesting shall be limited to Page 1 of 2 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HLS 17RS-855 ORIGINAL HB NO. 156 1 using tongs. , a hand scraper, or use of a single scraper with mechanical assist and 2 a flat bar length of no more than thirty-six inches is allowed. 3 * * * 4 C. The commission shall fix the open season for oyster harvest tonging in 5 Calcasieu Lake, which shall begin on any date between October fifteenth and 6 November first and shall end on April thirtieth. However, in consultation with the 7 Calcasieu Oyster Task Force, the commission may open or close the season as 8 biological data indicate a need and may manage East Cove and West Cove 9 separately. 10 * * * 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 156 Original 2017 Regular Session Dwight Abstract: Limits the gear used for oyster harvest on Calcasieu Lake and Sabine Lake to tonging. Present law provides for oyster harvest on Calcasieu Lake and Sabine Lake. Provides that such harvest may be by use of tongs, a hand scraper, or a single scraper with mechanical assist and a flat bar length of no more than 36 inches. Proposed law limits the gear used for oyster harvest on Calcasieu Lake and Sabine Lake to tonging. (Amends R.S. 56:435.1(A) and 435.1.1(A)(2) and (C)) Page 2 of 2 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.