A
declaration of emergency setting the 2007 recreational fishing
season dates and creel limits for red snapper, and setting
the 2007 commercial minimum size limit for red snapper, was
issued by Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission at the
April 5 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. on April 21, 2007. The season opening will
coincide with season opening date in federal waters. The daily
bag limit and possession limit will be four fish per person
through May 1, 2007.
On May 2, 2007,
the daily bag and possession limit will be reduced to two
fish per person. Also effective May 2, 2007, no red snapper
may be retained by the captain or crew of a vessel operating
as a charter vessel or headboat. Effective May 2, 2007, their
bag limit is reduced to zero.
Effective immediately,
the minimum size for red snapper harvested commercially is
reduced to 13 inches total length.
All applicable
rules regarding red snapper harvest including size, daily
take and possession limits established by the Commission shall
be in effect during the recreational season.
The Wildlife and
Fisheries Commission authorized the Secretary of the Department
of Wildlife and Fisheries to close the recreational red snapper
season when he is informed by the Regional Administrator of
NMFS that the recreational red snapper season is closed or
projected to be closed in adjacent Federal waters.
The Commission
also authorized the Secretary to modify the opening and closing
dates in State waters if he is notified that the opening and
closing of Federal waters are other than those specified by
this Commission action, and to open an additional recreational
red snapper season in Louisiana state waters if he is informed
that NMFS has opened an additional recreational season, and
to close such season when he is informed that the recreational
red snapper season is closed or projected to be closed in
adjacent Federal waters.
Effective
with any recreational take or possession limit under this
emergency rule, no person shall recreationally harvest or
possess red snapper whether taken from within or without Louisiana
territorial waters in excess of such established trip or possession
limit.
Effective
with any recreational red snapper season closure, no person
except those who possess a commercial reef fish permit issued
by the National Marine Fisheries Service under the Federal
Fishery Management Plan for the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish,
and who are legally taking red snapper under federal rules
regarding Individual Fishing Quotas for red snapper, shall
possess any red snapper whether taken from within or without
Louisiana territorial waters.
The commission's
actions ensure that regulations in state waters will complement
regulations of the National Marine Fisheries Service 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.
Following is a
summary of federal and Louisiana actions and effective dates:
Commercial red
snapper minimum size limit reduced to 13 inches; action is
effective April 2 in federal waters and April 5 in Louisiana
waters.
Recreational season
opens April 21 in federal and state waters; recreational size
limit will remain at 16 inches total length.
Recreational red
snapper bag limit April 21 through May 1, 2007 is four fish
per person per day including captain and crew of for-hire
vessels.
Recreational red
snapper bag limit effective May 2, 2007 and thereafter is
two fish per person per day and zero fish per person per day
for captain and crew of for-hire vessels.
