Louisiana Shrimp Task Force and Management Subcommittee to Meet Next Week

Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries 03.07.13

Next Thursday the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force and Management Subcommittee will meet in Baton Rouge at the Waddill Outdoor Education Center located at located at 4142 N Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70814.

The Management Subcommittee will meet at 10 a.m. with the following agenda:

Agenda:

I. Introductions

II. Skimmer Legislation Discussion

III. Serviceable Crab Trap Discussion

IV. Experimental Gear Discussion

V. State Water Boundary Discussion

VI. Adjourn

The full Shrimp Task Force will meet at 1 p.m. with the following agenda:

I. Introduction

II. Roll Call

III. STF Membership Discussion

IV. Text Alert System

V. Update from the Management Subcommittee

VI. Update on Safe Harbor Program

VII. Update on Ethics Training

VIII. Certification Program Update

IX. Set Next Meeting Date

X. Public Comment

XI. Adjourn

The Louisiana Shrimp Task Force was created by Act 606 of the Louisiana Legislature to study and monitor the shrimp industry and to make recommendations to the state.

Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries – Enforcement Division(LDWF) is the fish & game regulatory agency of Louisiana. It has jurisdictionanywhere in the state, and in state territorial waters. The agency enforces both state and federal laws dealing with hunting, fishing, and boating safety. The agency also enforces criminal laws in rural areas including DWI enforcement both on highways and waterways. Most of the Department’s Wildlife Agents also carry Federal law enforcement commissions issued from the United States Department of the Interior - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and United States Department of Commerce - U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). These federal commissions allow these state officers to enforce federal migratory waterfowl laws and federal marine fisheries laws in state and federal waters off the coast of Louisiana. Besides their traditional role as a “game warden”, Louisiana Wildlife Enforcement Agents also have a number of other responsibilities, including conducting board of health inspections on some portions of the state’s commercial fishing industry. Agents are trained in and conduct numerous search and rescue operations, both in remote land areas and on the state’s waterways. Agents ensure that hunters, anglers, boaters, dealers, breeders, farmers, and transporters are in compliance with regulations governing equipment, quotas, licenses, and registrations. Agents also assist other State departments and law enforcement agencies in the coordination of educational and professional endeavors, as well as national and state emergency alerts by the Federal Office of Emergency Preparedness. In addition, agents perform search and rescue missions alone or in conjunction with other local, state, and federal agencies.