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Committee backs 22-foot depth rule for menhaden purse seines after split vote
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Summary
After hours of testimony and a contentious exchange between recreational anglers and industry, the House Natural Resources Committee voted 8–7 to report HB 855 favorable, a bill that would require purse seines to operate only in waters 22 feet deep or deeper.
The House Natural Resources Committee on April 8 reported favorably, 8–7, on HB 855, legislation that would require commercial purse seine gear used in the menhaden reduction fishery to operate in waters at least 22 feet deep.
Vice Chair and bill sponsor Representative Ozeron said the measure is grounded in the state-funded bycatch study his office commissioned. “The data shows that at 22 feet you can begin to tell the change in redfish bycatch from the noise in the data,” LGL principal investigator Scott Rayborn told the committee, adding that, in the study model, “that effect is about a 30% decrease in red drum bycatch.”
Supporters — including the Coastal Conservation Association and recreational charter captains — urged the committee to adopt the depth rule to reduce nearshore bycatch of spawning-size red drum and other sport fish. Rad Trasher, CEO of CCA Louisiana, said the state-funded study gives a clear location to draw the line: “It gives you a definitive answer of where to draw the line, 22 feet,” he said.
Industry witnesses and coastal officials pushed back, saying the depth contour would sharply curtail where purse seine sets can be made and risk jobs. Francois Cottle, representing Westbank Fishing, told the committee the change would be disruptive and said the fishery is certified by an international standard: “Gulf menhaden fishery was recently recertified last month by the Marine Stewardship Council,” he said, and argued the sector has already adopted gear changes and monitoring.
Industry presenters said their analysis of 2024 effort shows a large share of sets occurred inside the 22-foot contour and that moving fishing effort offshore would impose substantial operational and economic costs. The industry testimony included a claim that “the 22-foot buffer zone would reduce menhaden catch by over 85%” based on 2024 set locations.
Committee members questioned both the science and the economics during lengthy back-and-forths. Dr. Rayborn and department staff acknowledged the bycatch study focused on the most commonly observed species and that the sample size limited depth-by-species analysis for rarer protected animals.
The committee’s favorable report sends HB 855 to the House for further consideration. The committee record shows an 8–7 roll call on the motion to report the bill favorable.
