The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced dates for public meetings to be held on spotted seatrout management. The most recent stock assessment indicated spotted seatrout are overfished and undergoing overfishing and changes are necessary in order to recover the stock.
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) indicated it would like to hear public input before considering management changes. No action is being taken at this time, however input is being gathered prior to any potential rule changes. LDWF’s biological opinion is that a 20% reduction in harvest is needed in order to recover the stock by 2025 or sooner, but there are a range of options that can achieve that goal.
Management change options recently presented to the LWFC in early January 2020 included creel limit only changes, minimum size limit changes only, combined creel and minimum size limit changes, slot limit only changes, and combined slot limit and creel changes.
All meetings will begin at 5 p.m., except the meeting in Ruston, which will begin at 1 p.m.
Feb. 10 – North Branch Library, 4130 W. Park Ave., Gray.
Feb. 12 – LDWF HQ, Herring Room, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge.
Feb. 13 – Lafayette Council Chambers, 705 W. University Ave., Lafayette.
Feb. 19 – East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
Feb. 20 – Slidell Municipal Auditorium, 2056 Second St., Slidell.
Feb. 26 – Epps Memorial Library, 1320 N. Simmons St., Lake Charles.
Feb. 27 – Rapides Parish Extension Office, 300 Grady Britt Dr., Alexandria.
Feb. 29 – Lincoln Parish Library, 910 N. Trenton St., Ruston.
LDWF is partnering with Louisiana Sea Grant to use interactive voting technology at these public hearings in response to a survey that will be given at the meetings. LDWF will also be sending out an e-mail survey identical to the survey that will be administered at public meetings.