OutdoorHub
Louisiana Commission Moves to Shrink Menhaden Buffer, Reigniting Coastal Tensions
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission has voted to move forward with a proposal that would allow commercial menhaden boats to fish closer to the state’s beaches, reducing the existing half-mile buffer zone to just a quarter-mile along much of the coast. The decision comes less than a year after a hard-fought compromise between the industry, anglers, and conservation groups established the half-mile limit to protect Louisiana’s fragile nearshore ecosystems.
The 4-3 vote followed hours of heated testimony from both sides. Recreational fishermen and conservationists urged the commission to maintain the current buffer, arguing that bringing industrial pogy boats closer to shore would once again put redfish, speckled trout, and other species at risk. The menhaden industry, however, claimed that the restrictions had hurt their ability to operate and that the new proposal adds clarity while modestly expanding protected areas in select regions.
Menhaden, also called pogies, are a small forage fish critical to the Gulf food chain. They feed larger species such as redfish and speckled trout, two of Louisiana’s most prized gamefish. In 2024, the buffer zone was created after several large-scale fish kills left tons of dead menhaden and bycatch washed up on beaches from Cameron to Grand Isle. The policy had widespread support among anglers and coastal residents, many of whom hoped it would prevent future incidents and protect spawning grounds near shore.
Proposed menhaden buffer zone changes along Louisiana’s southeast coast. Map: LDWF
Conservation groups including the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) and the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) have strongly condemned the proposed rollback. TRCP called the move “nothing less than the industry and their political allies backing out of that deal,” warning it will harm fragile coastal habitats and further deplete gamefish populations.
In a joint letter to the commission signed by 188 sportfishing businesses, the ASA urged commissioners to reject the proposal, saying it would “have detrimental impacts on sportfish, forage fish, spawning habitats, coastal communities, and Louisiana’s $3.7 billion recreational fishing industry.” The letter highlighted that Louisiana is home to more than 730,000 anglers supporting nearly 24,000 jobs statewide and warned that reducing the buffer “will jeopardize that tradition.”
Proposed buffer adjustments along Louisiana’s western shoreline. Map: LDWF
The ASA also pointed to a state-sponsored study that documented nearly 150 million fish killed as industrial bycatch in 2024, including redfish, speckled trout, and other key recreational species. “Bycatch of redfish increased in shallower depths,” the letter noted, raising concerns that a reduced buffer would make redfish even more vulnerable as they gather nearshore.
According to TRCP data, after the half-mile buffer was enacted in 2024, the number of fish spilled from menhaden nets dropped by 74 percent, while industry harvest totals remained stable and revenues increased.
A statewide overview of the proposed menhaden fishing buffer zones, highlighting areas where the current half-mile boundary would be reduced to a quarter mile.
The commission’s decision initiates a 60-day public comment period beginning December 19 and closing January 23. Lawmakers will then have the option to review or challenge the proposal before it can take effect in March 2026.
For many along the coast, the issue is about balance. Charter captains and anglers view the buffer as a basic safeguard for the fishery that fuels Louisiana’s recreational economy, while menhaden harvesters insist it’s about preserving their way of life. As the debate continues, Louisiana’s coastal waters and the fisheries that depend on them remain caught in the middle.
The post Louisiana Commission Moves to Shrink Menhaden Buffer, Reigniting Coastal Tensions appeared first on OutdoorHub.
Continue reading...
Louisiana Commission Moves to Shrink Menhaden Buffer, Reigniting Coastal Tensions
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission has voted to move forward with a proposal that would allow commercial menhaden boats to fish closer to the state’s beaches, reducing the existing half-mile buffer zone to just a quarter-mile along much of the coast. The decision comes less than a year after a hard-fought compromise between the industry, anglers, and conservation groups established the half-mile limit to protect Louisiana’s fragile nearshore ecosystems.
The 4-3 vote followed hours of heated testimony from both sides. Recreational fishermen and conservationists urged the commission to maintain the current buffer, arguing that bringing industrial pogy boats closer to shore would once again put redfish, speckled trout, and other species at risk. The menhaden industry, however, claimed that the restrictions had hurt their ability to operate and that the new proposal adds clarity while modestly expanding protected areas in select regions.
Menhaden, also called pogies, are a small forage fish critical to the Gulf food chain. They feed larger species such as redfish and speckled trout, two of Louisiana’s most prized gamefish. In 2024, the buffer zone was created after several large-scale fish kills left tons of dead menhaden and bycatch washed up on beaches from Cameron to Grand Isle. The policy had widespread support among anglers and coastal residents, many of whom hoped it would prevent future incidents and protect spawning grounds near shore.
Proposed menhaden buffer zone changes along Louisiana’s southeast coast. Map: LDWF
Conservation groups including the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) and the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) have strongly condemned the proposed rollback. TRCP called the move “nothing less than the industry and their political allies backing out of that deal,” warning it will harm fragile coastal habitats and further deplete gamefish populations.
In a joint letter to the commission signed by 188 sportfishing businesses, the ASA urged commissioners to reject the proposal, saying it would “have detrimental impacts on sportfish, forage fish, spawning habitats, coastal communities, and Louisiana’s $3.7 billion recreational fishing industry.” The letter highlighted that Louisiana is home to more than 730,000 anglers supporting nearly 24,000 jobs statewide and warned that reducing the buffer “will jeopardize that tradition.”
Proposed buffer adjustments along Louisiana’s western shoreline. Map: LDWF
The ASA also pointed to a state-sponsored study that documented nearly 150 million fish killed as industrial bycatch in 2024, including redfish, speckled trout, and other key recreational species. “Bycatch of redfish increased in shallower depths,” the letter noted, raising concerns that a reduced buffer would make redfish even more vulnerable as they gather nearshore.
According to TRCP data, after the half-mile buffer was enacted in 2024, the number of fish spilled from menhaden nets dropped by 74 percent, while industry harvest totals remained stable and revenues increased.
A statewide overview of the proposed menhaden fishing buffer zones, highlighting areas where the current half-mile boundary would be reduced to a quarter mile.
The commission’s decision initiates a 60-day public comment period beginning December 19 and closing January 23. Lawmakers will then have the option to review or challenge the proposal before it can take effect in March 2026.
For many along the coast, the issue is about balance. Charter captains and anglers view the buffer as a basic safeguard for the fishery that fuels Louisiana’s recreational economy, while menhaden harvesters insist it’s about preserving their way of life. As the debate continues, Louisiana’s coastal waters and the fisheries that depend on them remain caught in the middle.
The post Louisiana Commission Moves to Shrink Menhaden Buffer, Reigniting Coastal Tensions appeared first on OutdoorHub.
Continue reading...