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House panel advances a package of seafood and fisheries bills to expand task forces, labeling, research and harvest rules
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Summary
On March 25 the committee reported favorably a set of seafood-related bills including additions to oyster and seafood task forces, authorization for a seafood safety fund’s uses, labeling changes for commingled imports, bulk tagging for alternative oyster cultivation, an aquaculture expansion in Grand Isle, a uniform shrimp-trawling start time and designation of Atlantic tarpon as a saltwater game fish.
The House Agriculture and Forestry Committee on Wednesday advanced multiple seafood and fisheries measures bundled across the morning’s agenda.
Key actions included reporting favorably: House Bill 6 52 (adds a non-voting member to the oyster task force appointed by the Department of Agriculture), House Bill 3 49 (authorizes uses of the Imported Seafood Safety Fund), House Bill 5 88 (adds members to the Seafood Safety Task Force), House Bill 7 21 (sets a 5:30 a.m. shrimp-trawling start time in specified Vermilion Bay areas), House Bill 8 57 (clarifies labeling for commingled imported and domestic seafood), House Bill 6 69 (authorizes use of state property for seafood research and a Grand Isle aquaculture expansion), House Bill 8 89 (allows bulk tagging for off-bottom oyster cultivation) and House Bill 6 88 (designates Atlantic tarpon a saltwater game fish).
Sponsors and agency officials framed the package as modest, industry-driven fixes to strengthen traceability, expand industry representation and support marketing and research. Rep. Domingue said HB 3 49 creates a framework for promotion in addition to testing: “This is just all you’re doing today is creating the fund,” and Commissioner Mike Strain described plans to use the Seafood Safety Fund for testing, labeling inspections and promotion. On HB 8 57, Strain told the committee that state weights-and-measures actions have resulted in substantial fines when violations are proven.
Industry speakers supported the measures but raised operational concerns. Mitch Jurisich, chairman of the Louisiana Oyster Task Force, cautioned that some appointment changes can be hard to fill from parish-specific slots and asked for time to vet statutory changes; Ian McGowan of LaBelle Oyster Company described how bulk tagging would reduce redundant tags while preserving chain-of-custody data. Weldon Danos, executive director of the Grand Isle Port Commission, described an expansion of off-bottom oyster acreage and the market branding for Grand Isle oysters.
The committee adopted an amendment to HB 6 53 requiring one of two United Commercial Fishermen appointees be a resident of Saint Bernard Parish; the oyster task force chairman registered opposition to moving that change without task-force review but committee members said they would continue discussions. In all cases the bills were reported favorable without recorded roll-call tallies and will move on for further consideration.
