La. Admin. Code tit. 76 § VII-375

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

Section VII-375 - Traversing Louisiana Territorial Waters by Mississippi Recreational Anglers

A. Purpose. Pursuant to Louisiana Revised Statute 56:673 and in response to a resolution from the Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources to provide for a recreational fishing vessel traversing corridor east of the Mississippi River in Louisiana territorial waters to enhance safe passage for Mississippi recreational anglers fishing the federal exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the commission hereby enters into an agreement with the Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources as follows.

B. Traversing Corridor. For the purposes of this agreement the traversing corridor is established as those waters of Mississippi Sound, Breton Sound and Chandeleur Sound eastward from the double rig line as defined in Louisiana Revised Statutes 56:495.1(A)(2) to the eastern most extent of Louisiana territorial waters.

C. Eligibility. To be eligible to traverse Louisiana state waters under this agreement, anglers must comply with all of the following.

1. Anglers must be a licensed recreational fisherman for the state of Mississippi (resident or non-resident), or be legally able to fish in Mississippi waters; and provide proof of such while traversing waters within the territorial boundaries of Louisiana.

2. With the exception of licensed Mississippi charter vessels and persons aboard such charters, anglers must not be licensed to fish recreationally by the state of Louisiana. If an angler is a holder of a Louisiana fishing license then they must comply with the requirements for the state of Louisiana while possessing fish in Louisiana waters, regardless if only traversing.

3. Persons aboard vessels which are registered or documented in the state of Louisiana are required to comply with Louisiana fisheries regulations while fishing or possessing fish in Louisiana waters or outside of Louisiana waters when the fishery management plan for that fishery has been delegated to Louisiana for that fishery.

4. Vessels in the traversing corridor must be moving and anglers can not be in the act of fishing by any means.

5. The only fish species allowed to be possessed by a person aboard a vessel while traversing are the following federally managed species or species groups:

a. reef fish;

b. highly migratory species;

c. coastal migratory pelagic;

d. triggerfishes.

6. If the state of Mississippi is not participating in a regional management program for a particular species, then all fishermen shall comply with applicable federal fisheries regulations for that species if not fishing under a Louisiana regional management program for that species.

7. For purposes of this section, regional management is defined as a state exercising management over a fishery under state law and regulations where authority for a federal fishery management plan for that fishery has been approved and delegated by the National Marines Fisheries Service.

La. Admin. Code tit. 76, § VII-375

Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 40:101 (January 2014).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S.56:6(28) and R.S. 56:673.