Menhaden Industry Targets Half-Mile...

Louisiana’s leisure fishing business faces a vital risk because the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Fee considers weakening lately established protections for nearshore waters. After only one yr below new conservation pointers, the commercial menhaden fishery is pushing to considerably scale back buffer zones that defend very important fish habitat and scale back devastating bycatch.

The Staggering Price of Bycatch

The numbers are alarming: 150 million fish are killed as bycatch each single yr in Louisiana waters by the commercial menhaden fishery. These aren’t simply any fish. Tarpon, redfish, speckled trout, and flounder—the spine of Louisiana’s leisure fishing—are being destroyed alongside the 1.2 billion kilos of forage fish the business harvests yearly.

These nearshore waters are the lifeblood of the Gulf sportfishing business, offering fishing alternatives for a whole lot of 1000’s of anglers and contributing $3.1 billion to the state’s financial system.

A Onerous-Received Compromise Now Underneath Assault

In 2024, stakeholders, together with the Coastal Conservation Association, leisure anglers, and the menhaden business, got here to the desk and reached a compromise. They agreed to a half-mile buffer zone for business menhaden operations to guard habitat and scale back deadly bycatch of species that drive Louisiana’s leisure fishing financial system.

The American Sportfishing Association strongly supported this conservation-minded strategy, recognizing that these pointers defend very important species and the forage fish they depend upon.

Now, after just one yr with the brand new rules in place, the pogey business is requesting a 30% improve of their fishing space nearest the coast. On the request of the menhaden corporations’ house owners, the Chairman of the Wildlife and Fisheries Fee has directed the Louisiana Division of Wildlife and Fisheries workers to draft a discover of intent to cut back the buffer zone from half a mile right down to only one quarter mile in most areas.

Why the Buffer Issues

These shallow waters aren’t simply fishing spots. They’re vital spawning grounds the place marine species thrive. The proposed discount throws away conservation positive factors that took years to realize, with no environmental overview and no consideration of ecological affect.

Time for Motion

Louisiana anglers and residents can not afford to remain silent. The fee wants to listen to from you instantly.

Take motion now:

1. Electronic mail the fee at comments@wlf.La.gov and duplicate CCA at info@ccalouisiana.com. Inform them to take care of the half-mile buffer zone.
2. Attend the fee assembly on November 6 in Baton Rouge, the place they may vote on this discover of intent. Your presence issues.

Louisiana’s fisheries are a public useful resource that belongs to all residents, not simply industrial pursuits. These invaluable waters shouldn’t be decimated for short-term business earnings. Ship that electronic mail at the moment, and mark your calendar for November 6. The way forward for Louisiana’s coastal fisheries is determined by it.`

Keith Lusher

Keith Lusher is an award-winning out of doors journalist who resides in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthshoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly out of doors column for the Slidell Impartial Newspaper. He additionally writes for the St.Tammany Parish Tourism Fee’s VisitTheNorthshore.com. He’s the previous host of The Northshore Fishing Report Radio Present and is on the board of the Louisiana Out of doors Writers Affiliation. Keith contributes to quite a few publications each on-line and in print and prides himself on selling South Louisiana’s distinctive fishery. To contact Keith electronic mail: keithlusherjr@gmail.com