The Louisiana Fisheries and Wildlife Commission (LWFC) adopted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prohibit the waste of fishery resources and the abandonment of menhaden seine gear during fishing operations.
The proposed rule would be:
- Prohibit the abandonment of menhaden netting gear during the course of fishing operations or on the water and establish a 48-hour window to remove all gear before it is considered abandoned.
- Establishes marking requirements for released equipment to facilitate recovery and to warn of hazards to navigation by released equipment.
- Notification to LDWF would be required within 2 hours of any menhaden release.
- Requires that all reasonable attempts be made to recover menhaden and bycatch from the environment upon release.
- Defines that a violation of these rules will be considered a waste of a fishery resource subject to a civil fine and that the return and abandonment of the gear will constitute a commercial waste violation.
Interested parties may submit comments on the proposed rule to Jason Adriance, Division of Fisheries, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, PO Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000 or by email to [email protected] by noon on January 5, 2023. The full notice of intent can be found here.
The Commission’s adoption of a Notice of Intent (NOI) is the first of many steps toward promulgating a final rule, which can take anywhere from 90 days to a year. Once adopted, the NOI will be published in the State Register and the public comment period will begin.
The Commission will consider all public comments received and may make any changes it deems necessary or appropriate. In the absence of amendments to the NOI by the Commission, the proposed Rule will be sent to the Legislative Oversight Committee for review. After the 30-day review period has elapsed, or after favorable review by the Oversight Committee, the Rule may be published as final in the State Register.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is responsible for managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. LDWF receives no general state funding and relies on license sales as a major source of funding. Help us protect your hunting and fishing heritage while preserving habitat, wildlife, and aquatic resources by purchasing your license at www.wlf.la.gov. To receive email or text alerts, sign up here.