GREEN SHEET REDIGEST
HB 438 2023 Regular Session Robert Owen
WILDLIFE & FISHERIES: Provides relative to oyster seed ground vessel permits
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 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Robert Owen
Present law requires a person to be in possession of a Public Oyster Seed Ground gear license
in order to harvest oysters from the public grounds. Present law further specifies that the
Public Oyster Seed Ground gear license authorizes the harvest of oysters through the use of
a single scraper, tongs, or by hand.
Proposed law modifies present law by specifying that a person onboard a permitted vessel
must be in possession of a Public Oyster Seed Ground gear permit, and that the permit is an
extension of the vessel permit and allows harvest of oysters from public seed grounds.
Present law specifies that the fee for the gear license is $200 per year for a resident and $800
for a nonresident. Present law further specifies that a second scraper requires an additional
gear license.
Present law provides that revenues from purchase of the vessel permit be deposited in the
Oyster Resource Management Account under R.S. 56:10(B)(4). Proposed law maintains
present law and specifies that gear permit revenues also be deposited in that account.
Proposed law changes the term "license" to "permit" but otherwise retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 56:433.1(A)(1))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Natural Resources to the
engrossed bill
1. Provides that in order to harvest oysters from public grounds, a person
onboard a permitted vessel must be in possession of a Public Oyster Seed
Ground gear permit.
2. Provides that revenues from both the vessel permit and the gear permit must
be deposited in the Oyster Resource Management Account.
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Prepared by Jacob Wilson.