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Committee votes to make aggregated menhaden harvest data public under HB 8 86
Summary
HB 8 86 was reported favorably; the bill aims to make aggregated, non‑identifiable statewide menhaden harvest data public while preserving personally identifiable vessel information, prompted by concerns that current rules created undue secrecy around a major state fishery.
House Bill 8 86, read into the record on April 29, would change how menhaden harvest reporting is handled so aggregated, non‑identifiable statewide season data are public rather than treated as confidential. Representative Orgeron told the committee he reviewed the current reporting and concluded the confidentiality provisions cited in reports apply to personally identifiable vessel data, not aggregated seasonal totals.
“There should not be a cloak of secrecy over that information,” Representative Orgeron said, arguing that menhaden are a state public resource and aggregated harvest data should be available for management and public review. He said the number of participants in the industrial reduction fishery has declined to a point where statewide aggregated figures would not reveal personally identifiable information.
Conservation and fishing-industry stakeholders testified in support. Rick Owens of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and Rad Trasher of CCA Louisiana endorsed the bill as a step toward better management. Chris Macaluso of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership told the committee timely harvest data are important given the scale of the fishery.
The committee reported HB 8 86 favorably with no objection; the author indicated he would work with staff about removing redundant data elements from reporting if necessary. The bill now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration.
