Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 8, the House Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to hear a critical package of bills, the “Menhaden Industry Accountability Package,” to protect Louisiana’s coast from industrial overfishing.
Use the Take Action button below to contact the committee, urging them to vote “Yes” on HB 855, HB 757, HB 872, and HB 886.
Why the Menhaden Industry Needs Oversight
For too long, the industrial menhaden (pogy) fleet has operated with almost no oversight, vacuuming up the primary food source for our redfish, speckled trout, and tarpon. These bills will finally put “Sportsman’s Paradise” first.
The “Accountability Package” – What These Bills Do:
- HB 855 (The 22-Foot Rule): Moves industrial nets into waters deeper than 22 feet. Science shows this is where game fish bycatch, the accidental killing of our redfish, drops significantly.
- HB 757 (Real Consequences): Implements massive fines, up to $250k, for illegal fishing, stopping violations from being just a “cost of doing business.”
- HB 872 (Digital Eyes): Requires GPS tracking (AIS) on every commercial boat so they can’t sneak into protected shallow-water “buffer zones” without getting caught.
- HB 886 (Transparency): Forces the industry to stop hiding its harvest data from the public and our researchers.
Note: SB 186 is also an important part of this package, but will not be heard in tomorrow’s hearing. It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources. Keep an eye on your inbox for action needed when this bill is scheduled for a hearing.
- SB 186 (The Catch Limit): Finally puts a hard cap on the number of millions of pounds of menhaden that can be removed from our waters annually. Every other state has a limit; it’s time Louisiana does too.
Hearing Details: How to Watch and Participate
Tomorrow’s hearing is to begin at 9:00 AM in committee room 4. If you are unable to attend in person, you can watch the hearing online.
Why It Matters: The Future of Louisiana Fishing
This isn’t just about policy, it’s about the future of our time on the water. Menhaden are the “most important fish in the sea” because they are the foundation of our entire recreational fishery. When industrial fleets strip-mine these baitfish from our nearshore shallows, they aren’t just taking pogy; they are destroying the forage base that keeps redfish, speckled trout, and tarpon in our marshes.
Furthermore, every time an industrial net is set in shallow water, our prized game fish are caught as bycatch. We cannot claim to be “Sportsman’s Paradise” while allowing an industrial extraction industry to jeopardize the $3.7 billion recreational fishing economy that sustains our local guides, marinas, and coastal communities.
Stand with us to protect the Louisiana coast. Please take 30 seconds to forward this email to your family and fishing buddies. Urge them to join you in the fight to protect our Sportsman’s Paradise. A few minutes of their time today ensures we all have fish to catch tomorrow. Let’s ensure the next generation of Louisiana sportsmen has fish to catch.
