La. Admin. Code tit. 76 § VII-361
Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
Section VII-361 - Tuna-Harvest RegulationsA. Bag and Possession limits, Recreational Species | Bag and Possession Limit |
1. Yellowfin Tuna | 3 fish per person |
2. Bluefin Tuna | 1 fish per vessel per year as incidental catch during open seasons. |
B. Size Limits, Recreational and Commercial Species | Minimum Size Limit |
1. Yellowfin Tuna | 27 inches curved fork length (CFL) |
2. Bigeye Tuna | 27 inches curved fork length (CFL) |
3. Bluefin Tuna* | 73 inches curved fork length (CFL) |
*The size class of a bluefin tuna found with the head removed shall be determined using pectoral fin curved fork length (PFCFL) multiplied by a conversion factor of 1.35.
NOTE:
Curved Fork Length (CFL) - the length of a fish measured from the tip of the upper jaw to the fork of the tail along the contour of the body in a line that runs along the top of the pectoral fin and the top of the caudal keel.
Pectoral Fin Curved Fork Length (PFCFL) - the length of a beheaded fish from the dorsal insertion of the pectoral fin to the fork of the tail measured along the contour of the body in a line that runs along the top of the pectoral fin and the top of the caudal keel.
C. No person shall take or have in their possession any species of tuna less than the minimum size or in excess of the take or possession limits. The possession limit on tunas applies to tuna taken within or outside Louisiana territorial waters. No person shall transfer or cause the transfer of tuna between vessels on state or federal waters.D. Permits 1. Recreational. Persons aboard a vessel whether within or outside Louisiana territorial waters possessing any of the following tuna species. Atlantic bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, skipjack tuna and albacore are required to have a valid federal recreational tuna permit and a recreational offshore landing permit in their immediate possession on board the vessel.2. Commercial. Persons harvesting the following tuna species. Atlantic bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, skipjack tuna and albacore whether within or outside Louisiana state territorial waters for commercial purposes or possessing such tuna species in excess of a recreational take limit are required to have a valid federal commercial tuna permit in their immediate possession on board the vessel. No person shall sell, barter, trade or exchange or attempt to sell, barter, trade or exchange any species of tuna without a valid federal commercial tuna permit. No person shall purchase, barter, trade or exchange or attempt to purchase barter, trade or exchange any species of tuna from any person who harvested tuna without a valid federal commercial tuna permit.E. No person who, pursuant to state or federal law, is subject to the jurisdiction of this state shall violate any federal law, rule or regulation particularly those rules and regulations enacted pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act and published in the Code of Federal Regulations as amended title 50 and 15, for tunas while fishing in the EEZ, or possess, purchase, sell, barter, trade, or exchange tunas within or without the territorial boundaries of Louisiana in violation of any state or federal law, rule or regulation particularly those rules and regulations enacted pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act and published in the Code of Federal Regulations as amended title 50 and 15 law.La. Admin. Code tit. 76, § VII-361
Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 26:2834 (December 2000), amended LR 27:2269 (December 2001), LR 37:3540 (December 2011), LR 38:1419 (June 2012), LR 40:101 (January 2014).AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 56:6(25)(a), R.S. 56:326.1, R.S. 56:326.3, R.S. 56:320.2(C) and R.S. 56:6(34).