At its
Aug. 7 meeting, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission
issued a declaration of emergency and notice of intent to
modify rules for the harvest of gray triggerfish, the recreational
harvest of greater amberjack, and issued a notice of intent
to establish rules regarding devices required to be on board
and in use when harvesting or possessing reef fish in federal
waters. These actions will provide consistent regulations
with those in place in federal waters offshore of Louisiana.
The minimum
size limit for gray triggerfish has been increased from 12
inches total length to 14 inches fork length, for both recreational
and commercial harvesters.
The minimum
size for greater amberjack for recreational harvesters has
been increased from 28 to 30 inches fork length. The commercial
minimum size limit remains at 36 inches fork length.
Captain
and crew members shall not harvest or possess greater amberjack,
as well as red snapper or grouper of any species while operating
as charter vessels and headboats as defined in Federal Regulations
50 CFR Part 622.2. Their bag limit is zero for all of these
species.
The notice
of intent also proposes rules that would require that for
a person on board a vessel to fish for or possess Gulf reef
fish in the Gulf EEZ (the waters outside Louisiana State waters),
the vessel must possess on board and such person must use
the devices as specified below.
a.
Non-stainless steel circle hooks. Non-stainless steel circle
hooks are required when fishing with natural baits for reef
fish.
b.
Dehooking device. At least one dehooking device is required
and must be used to remove hooks embedded in Gulf reef fish
with minimum damage. The hook removal device must be constructed
to allow the hook to be secured and the barb shielded without
re-engaging during the removal process. The dehooking end
must be blunt, and all edges rounded. The device must be
of a size appropriate to secure the range of hook sizes
and styles used in the Gulf reef fish fishery.
c.
Venting tool. At least one venting tool is required and
must be used to deflate the swim bladders of Gulf reef fish
to release the fish with minimum damage. This tool must
be a sharpened, hollow instrument, such as a hypodermic
syringe with the plunger removed, or a 16–gauge needle
fixed to a hollow wooden dowel. A tool such as a knife or
an ice-pick may not be used. The venting tool must be inserted
into the fish at a 45–degree angle approximately 1
to 2 inches from the base of the pectoral fin. The tool
must be inserted just deep enough to release the gases,
so that the fish may be released with minimum damage.
The commission's
actions ensure that regulations in state waters will complement
regulations of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
for federally managed waters. NMFS and the Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council typically request consistent regulations
for Louisiana waters to enhance effectiveness and enforceability
of regulations.
Public
comments on the notice of intent to modify the permanent rule
will be accepted prior to Thursday, Oct. 7, 2008. Comments
should be submitted to Harry Blanchet, Marine Fisheries Division,
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, PO Box 98000,
Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000 or by email to hblanchet@wlf.louisiana.gov,
with "August Reef Fish Notice of Intent" in the
subject line.
