Pogey Buffer Zone NOI Opens for Public Comment
Keith Lusher 12.04.23
In October, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved a Notice of Intent (NOI) that established a coastal buffer zone for the commercial harvest of menhaden AKA pogies. The zone would restrict pogey boats from entering a 1-mile zone off the entire Louisiana coastline and three miles from Grand Isle and the area between Holly Beach and Rutherford Beach in western Louisiana. In the NOI is also rules for reporting and clean-up of fish spills by the menhaden harvesters.
David Cresson of CCA Louisiana is a proponent of the new restrictions and said, “These extended coastwide buffers will allow for the menhaden reduction industry to make their necessary harvest while protecting our fragile shorelines and the fish and wildlife that live there. We have all seen the impacts that this industry has on our coastal areas, especially when the operations occur in very shallow waters.”
Daybrook Fisheries and Omega Protein are two companies that harvest pogeys along the Louisiana Coast. To this date they are responsible for 18 individual fish spills in 2023. The spills have allegedly wasted millions of pogies and thousands of redfish and other bycatch. In July, a vessel fishing for Daybrook was cited for illegally harvesting 86,000 pounds of menhaden “well inside” the ¼ mile buffer zone. Last September, an Omega crew cut and abandoned an enormous net containing an estimated 900,000 menhaden and failed to mark the dangerous, abandoned gear. Each year, Daybrook and Omega ships from Mississippi and Louisiana harvest billions of pogies and kill thousands of spawning redfish in Louisiana waters. This is all coming at a time when fingers are being pointed at the recreational fishermen of Louisiana for overfishing of redfish.
Now, it’s time to hear from the recreational fishermen! The NOI has entered into the public comment period. It’s important that your voice be heard on this issue! Please send your comments today, expressing your support of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission and their Menhaden Buffer NOI. Click HERE to submit your comments.
