HLS 23RS-349 ENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 132
BY REPRESENTATIVE BROWN
WILDLIFE & FISHERIES: Urges and requests the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
to study and make recommendations regarding alligator markets, populations, and
hunting
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Alligator
3 Advisory Council, and the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to study and make
4 recommendations relative to alligator markets and populations and commercial,
5 recreational, and nuisance hunting in this state.
6 WHEREAS, in 1967 the American alligator was listed as an endangered species
7under federal law; and
8 WHEREAS, in the 1970's the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries began
9implementing conservation measures to increase the alligator population in this state; and
10 WHEREAS, there were under seven thousand alligator nests in coastal marsh
11habitats in this state in the 1970's, but through conservation efforts that number had risen to
12nearly sixty-five thousand by 2021; and
13 WHEREAS, the wild population of alligators has grown from less than one hundred
14thousand to over two million in the last fifty years; and
15 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries must be recognized
16and commended for their outstanding work to restore this species in what has been called
17one of the greatest conservation stories in the United States; and
18 WHEREAS, today Louisiana has an estimated population of over two million wild
19alligators and another one million farm-raised alligators; and
20 WHEREAS, by comparison, Florida has an estimated population of one million three
21hundred thousand alligators, just over one third of the population in Louisiana; and
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HCR NO. 132
1 WHEREAS, the population of wild alligators in the state has recovered so well that
2they are now becoming a problem; and
3 WHEREAS, more nuisance alligators are being reported in residential areas than ever
4before; and
5 WHEREAS, commercial fishermen are experiencing increasing damage to their
6traps, nets, and other gear from alligators; and
7 WHEREAS, the conservation measures put in place many years ago to help restore
8a healthy population must now be reduced in order to protect Louisiana citizens and
9fishermen; and
10 WHEREAS, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries issues a limited number of
11tags each year based on the acreage of the property with which the tags are associated; and
12 WHEREAS, while the tags should still be issued for the purposes of the Convention
13on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the department
14should modify the formula used to calculate the number of tags issued for individual
15properties so that many more tags can be issued for commercial hunting; and
16 WHEREAS, from 1999 to 2009 the state operated a bonus tag program for hunters
17that inadvertently caught alligators six feet and under; and
18 WHEREAS, the program was suspended after several natural disasters adversely
19impacted alligator nesting; and
20 WHEREAS, the alligator markets fluctuate due to a host of factors, however, this
21industry is a critical component to the economy and culture of this state; and
22 WHEREAS, a market analysis of the alligator industry would provide significant
23benefit in the decision-making process.
24 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
25urge and request the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Alligator Advisory Council,
26and the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to jointly study and compile data relative to
27alligator markets and populations and commercial, recreational, and nuisance hunting in this
28state.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shall
30submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the speaker of the House of
31Representatives and the president of the Senate by February 1, 2024.
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HCR NO. 132
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
2secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the chairman of the Wildlife and
3Fisheries Commission, and the chairman and the program manager of the Alligator Advisory
4Council.
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 Urges and requests the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Alligator Advisory Council,
and the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to study and make recommendations relative to
alligator markets and populations and commercial, recreational, and nuisance hunting.
Requires the department to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to
the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate by Feb. 1, 2024.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Natural Resources and
Environment to the original bill:
1. Change the resolution from directing the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries to
increase commercial and recreational hunting to urging and requesting the
department, the Alligator Advisory Council and the Wildlife and Fisheries
Commission to study and make recommendations regarding alligator populations
and markets as well as commercial, recreational, and nuisance hunting.
2. Add information regarding the alligator market.
3. Require the department to submit a written report of its findings and
recommendations to the speaker of the House of Representatives and the
president of the Senate by Feb. 1, 2024.
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