Seafood
Industry Community Policing Initiative Begins
Posted:
9/10/04
Ensuring that all
fish and seafood products are legally harvested, documented,
sold and purchased is the responsibility of the Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' Enforcement Division.
Beginning Sept. 13, 2004, wildlife agent inspections will
include an educational component to help seafood dealers understand
their responsibilities.
As part of each
dealer inspection, enforcement agents will hand out a one-page
information sheet titled, "Seafood Dealers Quick Guide
to an Inspection." The guide lists the items all seafood
handlers must have available for inspection and additional
requirements wholesale/retail seafood dealers must meet when
asked for documentation.
A seafood dealer
inspection may take place at a wholesale or retail outlet,
restaurant, vehicle or any other location where seafood products
are purchased or sold. Agents check for compliance to seasonal
dates for species in possession, as well as size requirements,
documentation of transactions, proper licensing and public
health requirements.
"We want to
ensure that those in the seafood business are familiar with
the inspection process and are complying with the regulations
of our state fishing industry," said LDWF Secretary Dwight
Landreneau. "The purpose of these September visits is
to provide dealers with useful information and establish a
good working relationship as well."
Louisiana's commercial
seafood industry has an economic impact of more than $2.7
billion annually to the state. More than 27,000 jobs are supported
by the state's seafood industry, including more than 1,700
wholesale seafood dealers and 1,000 retail seafood dealers.
Those businesses are the funnel points for the more than 1.2
billion pounds of finfish, shellfish and crustaceans harvested
and sold annually.
The foundations
of fishery management plans are dependent upon sound regulation
and the ability to maintain acceptable levels of compliance.
The role of law enforcement in the fishery management process
is to provide guidance, ensure effectiveness, maintain consistency
and enforceability of regulations, and protect and conserve
natural resources for the safe use and enjoyment of present
and future generations.
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