LWF Commission Modifies Rules for Large Coastal Sharks

News Release

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Release Date: 12/06/2012

(Dec. 6, 2012)– Today, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission took action on a Declaration of Emergency to modify the commercial harvest possession limits for Non-Sandbar Large Coastal Sharks.  The commercial possession limit will increase from 33 to 36 for the 2013 commercial harvest season.

The National Marine Fisheries Service, in 2008, promulgated rules that established an increase in the commercial possession limit of Non-Sandbar Large Coastal Sharks from 33 to 36 sharks beginning with the 2013 commercial season.  This action will provide consistency with federal regulations and increased opportunity for Louisiana shark fisherman to harvest more sharks.

In a related action, the LWFC also took action on a Notice of Intent to permanently modify the commercial Non-Sandbar Large Coastal Shark possession limits.

Interested persons may submit comments relative to the proposed rule to Jason Adriance, Fisheries Division, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000, or via e-mail to jadriance@wlf.la.gov prior to February 7, 2013.

The Non-Sandbar Large Coastal Sharks group includes great hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, nurse, blacktip, bull, lemon, silky, spinner and tiger sharks.  Sandbar sharks are included in the Large Coastal Sharks group, however harvest and possession is prohibited without a special federal shark research permit issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

For more information please contact Jason Adriance at jadriance@wlf.la.gov or (504)284-2032.  For press inquiries please contact Laura Wooderson at lwooderson@wlf.la.gov or (504)430-2623.

Source: LDWF

 

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