SLS 24RS-475 ORIGINAL 2024 Regular Session SENATE BILL NO. 273 BY SENATOR HENSGENS FISH/FISHING. Provides for bait shrimp. (8/1/24) 1 AN ACT 2 To amend and reenact R.S. 56:497(B)(2), relative to taking of bait shrimp; to provide for the 3 duty and authority of the Louisiana Wildlife Commission; to provide for a special 4 bait dealers permit; to provide for use of certain gear; and to provide for related 5 matters. 6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: 7 Section 1. R.S. 56:497(B)(2)is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 8 ยง497. Saltwater shrimp seasons; bait shrimp 9 * * * 10 B. (1) * * * 11 (2) Bait shrimp may be taken in state waters during the closed seasons, but 12 only in cast nets; dip nets with a diameter not to exceed three feet operated only by 13 hand without any mechanical device or pulley whatsoever; bait traps; and bait seines 14 in compliance with R.S. 56:323 and 500(B). No bait shrimp may be taken in state 15 waters during closed seasons with the use of a butterfly net, paupier, skimmer net, 16 trawl, night trawl, or beam trawl except as set forth in this Subpart provided by the 17 commission pursuant to Subsection C of this Section. Page 1 of 2 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 273 SLS 24RS-475 ORIGINAL 1 * * * The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jacob K. Wilson. DIGEST SB 273 Original 2024 Regular Session Hensgens Present law provides for taking of bait shrimp in the closed season with certain gear and prohibits the use of butterfly nets, paupiers, skimmer nets, trawls, night trawls, or beam trawls to take bait shrimp in the closed season, except as provided in statute. Present law authorizes the commission to adopt rules and regulations to provide for a special bait dealers permit. Proposed law retains present law and specifies that the commission may provide for the use of butterfly nets, paupiers, skimmer nets, trawls, night trawls, or beam trawls under its bait dealers permitting authority. Effective August 1, 2024. (Amends R.S. 56:497(B)(2)) Page 2 of 2 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions.