Louisiana reduces size of menhaden fishing buffer zones

Louisiana Reduces Menhaden Fishing Buffer Zones

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) has approved a proposal to decrease the buffer zones for menhaden fishing near the state's beaches. The buffer zones were reduced from a half-mile, established in 2024, to a quarter-mile.

This decision followed a 2023 conflict between the menhaden fishing industry and environmental groups after net spills caused hundreds of thousands of dead fish to wash ashore.

Reactions to the LWFC Decision

“Disappointing for anglers, conservationists, and those who care about Louisiana’s coastal ecosystems and habitat.”
— Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP)

Chris Macaluso, TRCP Director of Fisheries, said,

“In 2024, anglers, conservationists, and the menhaden industry reached a compromise to establish modest protections for Louisiana’s shallow coastal waters by setting a half-mile buffer off most Louisiana beaches. What happened today is nothing less than the industry and their political allies backing out of that deal.”

On the other hand, the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition, representing the commercial menhaden fishing sector, described the LWFC’s move as a balanced proposal prioritizing scientific considerations.

Summary

The LWFC’s decision to shrink menhaden fishing buffer zones has sparked criticism from environmentalists but is supported by the fishing industry as a science-based compromise.

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SeafoodSource SeafoodSource — 2025-11-07

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