The Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana is calling on the public and media to pay close attention Wednesday morning as the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee takes up four bills targeting the industrial menhaden reduction fishery — an industry dominated by Canadian-owned Omega Protein and South African-controlled Daybrook Fisheries.
The committee will convene Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. in Committee Room 4 (HCR-4) of the Louisiana State Capitol, 900 North Third Street, Baton Rouge. The hearing can be watched live at https://house.louisiana.gov/H_Video/HD/HCR4.
These are the bills CCA Louisiana supports:
HB 855 by Rep. Joseph Orgeron — Science-Based Buffer Bill Re-draws the buffer zone where the science says it belongs — 22 feet — drastically reducing industry bycatch of redfish, speckled trout, and other game species that Louisiana anglers and coastal communities depend on.
HB 757 by Rep. "Vinny" Cox — Real Penalties for Buffer Violations The industry deserves REAL penalties for buffer zone violations. A graduated first offense penalty of $50,000 up to a fourth offense of $250,000 and permanent license revocation.
HB 872 by Rep. Jerome Zeringue — Vessel Tracking (AIS Requirement) AIS tracking on ALL commercial menhaden vessels — including purse seine boats. Real-time vessel monitoring prevents unreported violations.
HB 886 by Rep. Joseph Orgeron — Public Harvest Data Louisiana's coastal waters are a public resource and the foundation of Sportsman's Paradise. The menhaden industry's harvest data should be public too.
CCA Louisiana represents more than 25,000 members statewide and has led the effort to protect Louisiana's coastal fisheries from the impacts of unchecked industrial menhaden operations.
IF YOU SUPPORT THESE BILLS, MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD TONIGHT.
If you or your organization supports this package of reforms, we encourage you to go on the record before tomorrow's hearing. Email the full House Natural Resources and Environment Committee tonight at h-natr@legis.la.gov and let your legislators know where you stand. Every message received before the 9:00 a.m. hearing becomes part of the public record.
To watch the hearing live Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.:https://house.louisiana.gov/H_Video/HD/HCR4
CCA Louisiana Executive Director Rad Trascher discusses the five-bill package:https://ccalouisiana.com/news/five-bills-one-goal-protect-louisianas-fisheries-cca-louisiana-ceo-rad-trascher-speaks-out/
Facebook Video:https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1P84LHnKak/
For more information: CCALouisiana.com | facebook.com/CCALouisiana