La. Admin. Code tit. 76 § VII-383

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section VII-383 - Possession Limits for Saltwater Recreational Finfish Landed at Port Eads Marina

A. Purpose. The Wildlife and Fisheries Commission recognizes that the Port Eads Marina in Plaquemines Parish is a remote fishing destination, only accessible by water, and that recreational fishermen may fish out of that facility for several consecutive days. In order to transport fish from the remote Port Eads Marina facility back to a location accessible by land, a recreational fisherman may have a need to possess a limit on the water greater than what is allowed by general statewide possession limits for saltwater recreational finfish.

B. Possession Limit. Notwithstanding possession limits established elsewhere in this Chapter, for the purpose of transporting fish in Louisiana territorial waters to a land-based facility located within the state, the possession limit for saltwater finfish caught recreationally in Louisiana territorial waters or in the adjacent federal exclusive economic zone and landed at Port Eads Marina shall be equal to the daily take limit for the number of consecutive days, up to three times the daily creel limit, that a fisherman has been lodging at the Port Eads Marina facility, provided the fisherman is in compliance with the following requirements.

1. The fisherman holds and is in possession of all current recreational fishing licenses required.

2. The fisherman is in possession of and can provide a lodge receipt or slip rental receipt issued by the Port Eads Marina facility that demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the department, the number of consecutive days that the fisherman has been lodging or docking at the Port Eads Marina facility.

3. Upon landing his or her daily catch at the Port Eads Marina, the fisherman shall notify the Wildlife and Fisheries employee or agent on duty at the facility, and provide his or her catch for inspection and certification that the species, size and daily creel are within legal limits.

a. To maximize the efficiency and productivity of Wildlife and Fisheries staff, the Secretary may, at his discretion, or upon request of the operator of the Port Eads Marina facility provide on-duty personnel at the facility. The request for LDWF personnel to be made available shall be made no later than 72 hours in advance of when their presence is requested at the facility.

4. The fish are kept in separate bags for each daily take limit. The bags are marked with the date fish were taken, the species and number of fish contained in the bag, and the name and recreational fishing license number of the person taking the fish. The contents of the bags have been certified by the Wildlife and Fisheries employee or agent on duty at the facility.

5. The fisherman is only in possession of his or her fish and shall not transport fish taken by another person back to the boat landing.

6. No person aboard the vessel may be engaged in or actively fishing.

C. The commission shall review the efficacy of the possession limit on an annual basis beginning one year from the date the rule becomes final.

La. Admin. Code tit. 76, § VII-383

Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 411123 (6/1/2015).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance R.S. 56:6(25)(a), R.S. 56:325.1, and R.S. 56:326.3.