A Notice of Intent (NOI) modifying the existing buffer to accommodate industrial fishing zones off the Louisiana coast was introduced by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) at its regular meeting Thursday, Nov. 6.
The unpopular NOI passed on a tiebreaker vote from LWFC Chairman Kevin Sagrera. Commissioner Jimmie Martin made the motion to introduce the NOI, seconded by Commissioner Nathan Wall. Commissioner Andrew Blanchard also voted in favor of the introduction.
Commissioners Gene Reynolds, Andy Brister, and Jonathan Walker voted against the measure.
At Thursday’s meeting, commissioners listened to more than two hours of testimony from commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen, and charter boat captains regarding the NOI. Many of the testimonies, especially from recreational fishermen and charter captains, were against the proposed modification. At the end of the public comment period, Sagrera read 77 names of those opposed to the NOI and 40 names of those in support.
If the NOI passes, the buffer zones would be reduced from half a mile to a quarter mile from Cameron Jetties to Rutherford Beach, Mermentau River to Rollover, Point Au Fer to Bayou Grand Caillou, and Bay Long to Southwest Pass. A gap in the buffer would also be added between Baptiste Collette and Breton Island, in open waters that connect outside waters with waters inside Breton and Chandeleur Sounds.
The adjustments proposed in the NOI would increase the total excluded fishing area by 4.32 percent, from approximately 264 square miles to roughly 276 square miles of nearshore waters.
Less than a year ago, commissioners passed an NOI establishing the current half-mile buffer.
The discussion
Before the vote, Sagrera admitted he was the commissioner who brought the issue back up and explained his reasoning.
“I am the one who brought this issue up,” Sagrera acknowledged. “The industry came to me. I brought this up to move it forward. In 2024, yes, they sat down in a room. The pogie industry had their back against the wall, and they agreed to something. We had a bycatch study coming up. We moved them to a half mile, but the bycatch was originally to be done at a quarter mile. That didn’t happen. Bottom line is, we’ve got two companies that are being pushed out. They’re asking to take in a few areas to come back in to catch fish. If those two companies go out of business, it will hurt two parishes that need jobs.”
Walker rebutted Sagrera’s statement.
“I didn’t hear anybody from that side of the table saying they were worried about their industry going away,” Walker said.
Martin explained his motion before the vote, saying the shortened buffer would not harm sport fishing.
“I feel like the shortened buffer is not going to hurt the sport fishing industry by moving the line in a quarter mile,” Martin said.
Walker pointed to the overwhelming public opposition to the NOI.
“We need to listen to what the public has to say,” Walker said. “Out of the 874 comments I got, all of them were against passing this.”
During his statement, Walker added that he received only one phone call from the menhaden industry in support of the NOI.
“If 874 people told me they didn’t want to open up duck season on Nov. 2, and I opened it up on Nov. 2, I’d be crucified,” he said. “We have to take into account what the public has to say.”
An overwhelming response
Blanchard, who works in the shrimp industry, said he supported the NOI but called for improved netting to reduce bycatch.
Reynolds complimented workers on pogie boats and their work ethic but noted the intense public opposition.
“I understand completely what’s going on with the industry,” Reynolds said. “However, the opposition to this particular NOI is overwhelming. Literally thousands of emails, comments, and phone calls have been coming in. I don’t think this is the correct thing to do.”
Brister, from Lake Providence, described himself as an “outsider looking in” on the South Louisiana issue. He suggested a legislatively formed task force, similar to the CWD Task Force, to discuss the matter.
“This is what I see,” Brister said. “It’s a user conflict issue. That’s what seems to dictate every discussion, user conflict. The bycatch study is just giving us something to fight about. Both sides claim it helps them, but that’s very confusing to me. It’s a serious issue.”
Earlier in the meeting, an audience member accused Wall of having a conflict of interest due to his involvement in alligator farming, noting that the feed used in his industry comes largely from menhaden fishing.
Wall responded, “A lot of people stood up and said they represent no one. I don’t represent the alligator industry, if you were wondering.”
The Thursday ruling is not final. The NOI will be published in the state register on Dec. 19 and open for public comment until Jan. 23. Afterward, the commission will evaluate public comments and determine whether to ratify, amend, or reject the proposal. It will then go to legislative oversight for a 30-day period. The earliest the rule could be published as final is March 20.
