Commission
Sets 2005 Seasons for Red Snapper and Other Reef Fishes
Posted:
1/5/05
Two declarations
of emergency, one setting the 2005 recreational fishing season
dates for red snapper and the other setting the 2005 commercial
fishing season dates for red snapper and other reef fish,
were issued by Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission
at its Jan. 4 meeting, as recommended by the Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries.
The recreational
fishing season for red snapper in Louisiana state waters will
open at 12:01 a.m. April 21, 2005. The season will remain
open until midnight Oct. 31 to coincide with season dates
in federal waters. The size limit for red snapper taken by
recreational fishermen will be 16 inches minimum total length,
with a daily bag limit and possession limit of four fish per
person.
The Commission
also authorized Secretary Dwight Landreneau of the Department
of Wildlife and Fisheries to change or modify opening and
closing dates for the recreational red snapper season in Louisiana
waters to comply with changes or modifications in season dates
in federal waters.
The first commercial
fishing season for red snapper will open at noon Feb. 1, 2005,
and remain open until noon on Feb. 10. This pattern will continue
each month until two-thirds of the 2005 commercial quota for
red snapper is harvested. The second commercial red snapper
season will open at noon Oct. 1, 2005, and remain open until
noon Oct. 10. The pattern will also continue each month until
the entire 2005 quota is harvested. The minimum size limit
for commercially harvested red snapper is 15 inches total
length.
The Commission
also authorized Landreneau to change or modify opening and
closing dates for the commercial red snapper season in Louisiana
waters to comply with changes or modifications in season dates
in federal waters.
The Commission
authorized Landreneau to close the season for the commercial
harvest of any species or group of species of reef fish in
Louisiana state waters if he is informed by the regional administrator
of National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) that the applicable
commercial quota has been harvested in the Gulf of Mexico,
and if he is requested by NMFS to enact compatible regulations
in Louisiana state waters.
Landreneau was
also authorized to reopen and close those commercial seasons
in Louisiana state waters if the commercial season dates in
the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico are modified and
NMFS requests that the season be modified in state waters.
The commission's
actions ensure that regulations in state waters will complement
regulations of the 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.
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