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Senate panel reports several fisheries bills favorably, including shrimp-timing, labeling and oyster tagging changes
Summary
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources reported a package of seafood and fisheries bills favorably on April 29, including HB 7 21 (shrimp harvesting time), HB 8 57 (seafood commingling labeling fix), HB 7 57 (manhaden boundary fines cleanup), HB 8 35 (charter guide permit on wildlife management areas) and HB 8 89 (bulk oyster tagging).
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources on April 29 moved a set of fisheries-related bills out of committee by unanimous consent.
House Bill 7 21 (Representative Kerner) replaces a sunrise-based shrimp-harvesting start time with a fixed 05:30 a.m. time in limited bays to provide uniform enforcement. Representative Kerner explained the change responds to concerns from the Louisiana Shrimp Association that “30 minutes before daylight or at daylight” created enforcement ambiguity.
House Bill 8 57 (Representative Kerner) was described by the author as a cleanup: commingling language (mixing imported and domestic seafood in a package) had been omitted from the penalty section in prior action and the bill restores commingling to the penalty provisions.
House Bill 7 57 (Representative Cox) sets fines for violating manhaden boundary rules established by the Commission; the author noted the House committee reduced earlier, heftier penalties to $2,500 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second and $7,500 for a third. The committee reported that bill favorably and the author indicated he would allow the chair to handle it on the Senate floor.
Representative Shammerhorn’s HB 8 35 establishes a $100 annual license to allow certified captains to provide charter guide services on wildlife management areas where commercial guiding is currently not permitted; Senator Lambert praised the change as opening opportunities in places such as the Atchafalaya Delta.
Representative Orgeron’s HB 8 89 would allow a single bulk tag for caged or off‑bottom oyster containers (with individual duplicate tags used for final retail bags) to reduce redundant tagging while preserving chain‑of‑custody and public‑health information; the author said wildlife and fisheries enforcement supports the change.
The committee approved the minutes from April 22 and deferred HB 6 37 for another week by unanimous consent before proceeding to additional bills. The committee adjourned at the end of the session.
