The Louisiana Wildlife
and Fisheries Commission passed two notices of intent on Nov.
6, 2008 describing administrative procedures related to the
Oyster Seed Ground Vessel Permit.
This new permit
was established by Act 922 of the 2008 Regular Legislative
Session and is required of all vessels harvesting oysters
for commercial purposes only from the public oyster seed grounds
and reservations, except those public areas of Calcasieu and
Sabine Lakes.
The notices of
intent outline administrative procedures for the renewal and
reissuance of permits, as well as the operations and functions
of the Seed Ground Vessel Permit Appeals Board.
As of Jan. 1, 2009,
all vessels fishing oysters on the public oyster seed grounds
and reservations, except those in Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes,
are required to have the vessel permit.
The renewal and
reissuance notice of intent describes the process for an existing
permit holder to renew his permit for the following year or
to be provided with a reissuance of a previous permit for
a different vessel. To qualify under renewal, a vessel owner
must have held a permit in the current or preceding license
year. If the vessel listed on a permit is no longer in service,
and the vessel owner now has a new vessel, the vessel owner
can qualify for a reissuance permit by relinquishing the permit
for the out-of-service vessel and obtaining a reissuance of
that permit in the name of the new vessel.
The Appeals Board
was established by Act 922 to hear appeals of permit applications
previously denied by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife
and Fisheries. Such appeals can only be based on the determination
of a hardship as per criteria outlined in the notice of intent.
The board shall only be comprised of licensed Louisiana oyster
harvesters who hold a seed ground vessel permit. After hearing
an appeal, the board may make a recommendation on permit issuance
to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary.
Interested persons
may submit written comments on the proposed rule to Patrick
D. Banks, Marine Fisheries Division, Department of Wildlife
and Fisheries, PO Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000 no
later than 4:30 p.m., Jan. 6, 2009.
A complete
copy of the two notices of intent may be accessed online at:
www.wlf.louisiana.gov/education/commissionactions.
