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 1033 Engrossed 2022 Regular Session Orgeron
Abstract: Provides additional regulations on the commercial menhaden fisheries.
Present law provides that anyone legally taking menhaden cannot have in their possession more than
five percent, by weight, of any species of fish other than menhaden and herring-like species.
Proposed law retains present law and provides for the following restrictions and requirements:
(1)All commercial menhaden companies utilizing vessels equipped with purse seines operating
in La. territorial waters for the purpose of reduction fishing can land no more than 260,000
metric tons, or 573,000,000 pounds, of menhaden from within those waters on an annual
basis.
(2)Of the 260,000 metric tons, or 573,000,000 pounds harvested within state waters, a
maximum of 52,000 metric tons or 115,000,000 pounds can be caught, or no more than
2,650 individual sets can be made, within one mile off the shore within a calendar year.
Additionally, a maximum of 104,000 metric tons or 229,000,000 pounds can be caught, or
no more than 5,250 individual sets can be made between one and two miles off the shore
within a calendar year.
(3)All commercial menhaden companies utilizing vessels equipped with purse seines for the
purpose of reduction fishing are required to report daily set locations via GPS, reading in
degrees, minutes, seconds, with a defined datum; length at catch in centimeters based on the
length of a subset of 50 individuals; estimated tonnage per set; and end product disposition,
bait or reduction, to the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) no later than 12:00 pm, CST
each day.
Proposed law provides that distance from shore is calculated using the inside-outside line described
in present law and includes the area of Breton and Chandeleur Sound within the calculations of sets
and tonnage, with the definition of the area as an estimated line denoting approximate average marsh
edge on the northern and western boundary of Breton and Chandeleur Sound, and using the shrimp
inside-outside line defining the southern and eastern boundary of Breton and Chandeleur Sound,
stopping at the state line between Louisiana and Mississippi, excluding any portion of Lake Borgne.
Proposed law further requires the LDWF to compile, evaluate, and make totals publicly available
by 12:00 pm CST daily. Further gives the LDWF the authority to close zones 0-1 and 1-2 when total
sets or tons are expected to meet the established set or catch limits in each zone respectively, and to re-open one or all zones should the set or catch limit not be met or keep zones closed should the
catch or set limit be met.
Proposed law further provides that any set occurring once a zone is closed by the LDWF in a given
year shall result in reduced harvest in total annual sets and tons in subsequent years. In addition, the
LDWF may assess specific fines and penalties to captains or companies for annual set or tonnage
violations.
(Amends R.S. 56:324)