Pogie bill would put the first-ever limits on Louisiana’s biggest catch
A bill that would put the first substantial limits on Louisiana’s largest but least-known commercial fishery could improve the health of the Gulf of Mexico but cripple the economies of some coastal communities. The bill would also require menhaden fishing vessels to file daily reports on catch amounts and locations, creating a level of accountability that the bill’s proponents say has been sorely lacking. Still, industry officials say the bill could force the closure of the state’s two menhaden processing plants, putting hundreds of people out of work in areas with few other job prospects. >click to read< 08:10
Catch limit determinations should only be made as the result of a science assessment using the best information and data available. Anything else is wishful guesswork which is wholly inappropriate for such a decision.