Oyster Task Force public meetings in 2020

Oyster Task Force

The Oyster Task Force will meet to consider comment letters on the Oyster Management and Rehabilitation Strategic Plan, and to discuss funding and hiring a public relations firm. Committee reports from enforcement, legislative, legal, research, coastal restoration, marketing, health, and aquaculture will be presented. Attendance is limited to 75 people with masks required due to COVID-19.

• Consider comment letters on the Oyster Management and Rehabilitation Strategic Plan
• Consider funding to hire a PR firm to represent the Oyster Task Force
• Designate and hire a PR firm to represent the Oyster Task Force
• Committee reports from nine committees including enforcement, legislative, and research
• Limited public attendance (75) and mask requirement due to COVID-19

The task force approved $40,000 to hire Beuerman Miller Fitzgerald for public relations and marketing. Members also voted to submit a formal letter objecting to the Oyster Management and Rehabilitation Strategic Plan due to a lack of industry input.

• Approved $40,000 in funding for Beuerman Miller Fitzgerald (Motion carries)
• Hired Beuerman Miller Fitzgerald as the official PR firm (Motion carries)
• Approved submission of a draft letter objecting to the Oyster Management and Rehabilitation Strategic Plan (Motion carries)
• Approved treasury report with fund balance of $487,522 and budget balance of $136,656 (Motion carries)
• Approved December 1, 2021 meeting agenda (Motion carries)
• Approved September 23, 2020 meeting minutes (Motion carries)
• Authorized the OTF chairman to set the next meeting date at his discretion (Motion carries)

Oyster Task Force

The Louisiana Oyster Task Force will meet to discuss the Oyster Strategic Plan and the Oyster Lease Acquisition & Compensation Program. The body will consider proposals to hire a PR firm and review the upcoming oyster lease renewal process.

• Proposals to hire a PR firm to represent the Task Force
• Update on funding and hiring legal counsel
• CPRA’s proposed changes to the Oyster Lease Acquisition & Compensation Program
• LDWF oyster lease renewal process and potential changes
• LOTF financial report and oyster tag sales

The task force approved the treasury report and authorized the legal subcommittee to narrow the scope of services for hiring outside counsel. Members discussed concerns regarding CPRA's public meetings and the Oyster Strategic Plan. The board also reviewed oyster enforcement reports and upcoming lease renewal processes.

• Approved July 7, 2020 meeting minutes
• Approved September 16, 2020 special meeting minutes
• Approved September 23, 2020 meeting agenda as amended
• Approved treasury report with $482,038 fund balance
• Approved Public-Private Oyster Seed Ground Committee recommendations
• Authorized legal subcommittee to finalize scope of services for outside counsel
• Postponed discussion on hiring a PR firm to the next meeting

Oyster Task Force

The Louisiana Oyster Task Force is meeting via webinar to discuss the 2020-2021 public oyster seed ground season and consider funding for Dermo sampling in those grounds. The meeting includes routine items such as approval of minutes, a treasury report, and public comment.

• Discuss 2020-2021 Public Oyster Seed Ground Season with LDWF
• Consider funding for 2020 Dermo Sampling in Public Oyster Seed Grounds (Dr. Jerome LaPeyre)
• Treasury Report including LOTF Financial Report and Oyster Tag Sales

The minutes record the agenda for a special meeting held via webinar. No substantive decisions, vote tallies, or funding outcomes are documented in the provided text.

Oyster Task Force

The Louisiana Oyster Task Force will hear an overview of CARES Act and 2019 Fisheries Disaster Funding from LDWF, discuss development of the Oyster Strategic Plan, and consider House Bill 433 which reduces the oyster seed ground vessel permit fee and creates associated gear fees. The board will also discuss current regulations and penalties for oyster trip tickets and log sheets, and consider funding to hire legal counsel for the Task Force.

• Hear overview of CARES Act and 2019 Fisheries Disaster Funding from LDWF
• Discuss Oyster Strategic Plan development
• Discuss House Bill 433 (reduces oyster seed ground vessel permit fee, creates gear fees)
• Discuss regulations and penalties for oyster trip tickets and log sheets
• Consider funding to hire Oyster Task Force legal counsel

The Oyster Task Force approved $30,000 to hire Joe Piacun as legal counsel. The board also passed a resolution stating John Zach Lea is not an authorized representative of the task force.

• Approved March 4, 2020 meeting minutes
• Approved amended agenda
• Approved treasury report
• Allocated $30,000 to hire legal counsel
• Contracted Joe Piacun as OTF legal counsel
• Passed resolution stating John Zach Lea is not an authorized agent of the task force
• Moved discussion on trip ticket regulations to the Legislative Committee
• Postponed next meeting to August 25, 2020

Oyster Task Force

The Louisiana Oyster Task Force will meet on March 4, 2020, in Houma to discuss and potentially act on several items. Key new business includes considering draft legislation to modify public oyster seed ground vessel permit fee options, hearing presentations on spat-tech oyster reef restoration and LDWF enforcement drones, and discussing federal recognition of oyster farmers. The board will also consider funding for the Croatian American Society Festival and address member absences.

• Consider draft legislation to change public oyster seed ground vessel permit fee options
• Hear presentation on Spat-Tech high density oyster seeding for reef restoration
• Hear presentation on LDWF enforcement drones
• Discuss federal government's recognition of oyster industry farmers
• Consider funding to sponsor the Croatian American Society Festival

The task force approved an amendment to draft legislation regarding oyster seed ground permit fees and authorized $2,500 in funding for the Croatian American Society Festival. The board also voted to send letters to absent members regarding their continued participation on the task force.

• Approved February 12, 2020 meeting minutes
• Approved amended agenda including Sister Lake discussion
• Accepted legislative committee recommendation with amendment for HB433
• Requested further research on hiring outside legal counsel
• Requested removal of funding resolution for water bottom assessment from LDWF agenda
• Approved $2,500 funding for Croatian American Society Festival
• Approved sending letters to board members regarding meeting participation

Oyster Task Force

The Louisiana Oyster Task Force will hear a presentation on potential federal remedies for the fisheries disaster and receive updates on federal disaster relief and a recent Washington D.C. trip. They will also discuss participation in the 2020 LA Fisheries Forward Summit and an update on the Ed Lallo Contract. Routine committee reports on enforcement, legislative, research, and other topics will be presented.

• Presentation and discussion on potential federal remedies for the fisheries disaster
• Update on federal fisheries disaster relief
• Update on OTF Washington D.C. trip
• Discussion on OTF participation in 2020 LA Fisheries Forward Summit
• Update on Ed Lallo Contract

The Task Force approved recommendations for oyster seed ground permit fees and lease rental reimbursements. The body also voted to enter contract negotiations with legal counsel and a strategic consultant. A treasury report showing a remaining fund balance of $464,984 was approved.

• Approved treasury report with $464,984 fund balance
• Approved recommendations to seek federal reimbursement for lease rental fees instead of waiving them
• Approved drafting legislation for a $25 vessel seed ground permit retention fee
• Approved recommendations to work with LDWF on oyster lease sign marking changes
• Approved entering contract negotiations with Margaret Henderson of Henderson Strategies
• Approved entering contract negotiating process with Joe Piacun for legal counsel
• Approved motion to send thank you letters to Guy McInnis, Captain George Ricks, and Mike Bayham
• Approved January 7, 2020 meeting minutes

Oyster Task Force

The Louisiana Oyster Task Force will receive an update on the Federal Fisheries Disaster Declaration from LDWF, consider creating a legal committee, and discuss participation in the 2020 LFF Summit and Louisiana Alive event in Washington D.C. Officers will be elected. Committee reports cover public/private grounds, enforcement, legislative, research, coastal restoration, marketing, health, and aquaculture.

• Update on the Federal Fisheries Disaster Declaration from LDWF
• Proposal to create a Legal Committee
• Discussion of OTF participation at the 2020 LFF Summit
• Discussion of the 2020 Louisiana Alive event in Washington D.C.
• Election of officers

The Task Force elected a new chairman and created a legal committee to interview outside attorneys. Members approved $3,000 for promotional materials for the LA Fisheries Forward Summit and agreed to seek a resolution to protect oyster resources in the State’s Coastal Master Plan.

• Elected Mitch Jurisich as OTF Chairman
• Approved $3,000 for promotional items for the LA Fisheries Forward Summit
• Created a legal committee and appointed Jakov Jurisic and Brad Robin as chairmen
• Approved recommendation to work with Senator Hewitt on a resolution to protect oyster resources in the Coastal Master Plan
• Approved financial report showing $460,807 fund balance and $106,755 budget balance
• Approved December 3, 2019 meeting minutes and January 7, 2020 agenda
• Approved motion to set up meetings with the Mississippi delegation in Washington, D.C.