Shrimp Task Force public meetings in 2025
4 substantive meetings from 2025, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Shrimp Task Force
The Louisiana Shrimp Task Force will review federal shrimp permits, financial reports, and enforcement of TED regulations. Members will also discuss ethics opinions for travel reimbursement, inshore reef projects, and disaster funding updates. Presentations include a seafood processing demonstration lab and marketing strategies for the shrimp industry.
- Discuss LDWF enforcement of TED regulations
- Review ethics opinion for task force member travel reimbursement to Washington, DC
- Hear update on federal fisheries disaster funding for equipment grants and hurricane assistance
- Presentation on LSU Ag Center and Sea Grant seafood processing demonstration lab
- Discuss marketing for the shrimp industry through Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
The task force approved funding for shrimp testing and voted to support legislation preventing LDWF from enforcing Turtle Excluder Device (TED) rules in inside state waters. The board also elected new officers and reviewed federal disaster funding and artificial reef projects.
- Approved $50,000 for Department of Agriculture and Forestry shrimp testing
- Approved motion to back legislation for LDWF not to enforce TED rules in inside state waters
- Approved motion to send letter to NOAA regarding the Restore American Act
- Elected Andrew Blanchard as chairman
- Elected Acy Cooper, Jr. as vice chairman
- Approved September 23, 2025 meeting minutes
- Approved financial report showing $467,364 fund balance and $90,201 budget balance
Shrimp Task Force
The Louisiana Shrimp Task Force will meet to discuss several key issues including closing the 3-mile line in coordination with inside closures, artificial reef markings, the spring shrimp season opening recommendation process, and shrimp market prices. The board will also consider funding for member travel to Washington, D.C. and extending a consulting contract for shrimp testing.
- Discuss closing the 3-mile line in coordination with the Inside Closures
- Discuss artificial reef markings
- Discuss Shrimp Task Force recommendation process for spring shrimp season opening
- Discuss shrimp market and price
- Consider funding for board member travel to Washington, D.C.
The task force approved a contract extension for SeaD Consulting to continue shrimp testing and voted to publish those results on the task force website. Members also approved funding for board travel to Washington, DC, and approved the financial report.
- Approved financial report with fund balance of $539,683 and budget balance of $166,750
- Approved funding for board member travel to Washington, DC
- Approved contract extension for SeaD Consulting for shrimp testing
- Approved motion for LDWF to inform restaurants and LDH of failed SeaD Consulting tests
- Approved motion to publish SeaD Consulting testing results on the Shrimp Task Force website
- Approved April 30, 2025 meeting minutes
- Approved September 23, 2025 meeting agenda
Shrimp Task Force
The Louisiana Shrimp Task Force will hear updates on federal shrimp permits, shrimp testing and labeling, and data trends for the 2025 inshore spring shrimp season. Members will also discuss a congressional trade update, an executive order on seafood competitiveness, and a special bait dealers permit.
- Congressional trade update from Sen. Cassidy's office
- Executive order on restoring American seafood competitiveness
- Shrimp testing and labeling update from LDAF
- 2025 inshore spring shrimp season recommendation
- Special bait dealers permit discussion
The task force approved the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) shrimp season recommendations and established a standard start time for a portion of Zone 2. The body also approved its treasury report and referred a bait dealer permit issue to the LDWF Commission.
- Approved LDWF shrimp season recommendations (Vote: 6-1)
- Established 5:30am standard opening time for Zone 2 from Atchafalaya River west to Vermillion Bay
- Approved treasury report showing $597,174 fund balance and $88,879 budget balance
- Denied motion to open Zone 1 on May 19, Zone 2 on May 5, and Zone 3 on May 22 (Vote: 1-5)
- Referred special bait dealer's permit discussion to the LDWF Commission
- Approved March 12, 2025 meeting minutes
- Postponed update on congressional legislative effort and fair trade
Shrimp Task Force
The Louisiana Shrimp Task Force will hear updates on the Equipment Grant Program, a shrimp labeling bill from the Department of Health, and the Chinese Seafood Warning Label Program. They will also discuss rescheduling a Washington, D.C. trip, the LDAF shrimp sampling contract, Gulf hypoxia, and SeaD Consulting's shrimp testing contract. Additionally, the board will consider amendments to Special Bait Dealers Permit regulations and funding for 2026 LA Alive.
- Discuss the Chinese Seafood Warning Label Program
- Discuss rescheduling STF Washington, D.C. trip
- Discuss LDAF's Shrimp Sampling Contract
- Consider amendments to Special Bait Dealers Permit Regulations
- Consider funding for 2026 LA Alive
The task force approved pursuing legislation to require country-of-origin labeling on the front of all seafood packaging in Louisiana. Members also approved expanded antibiotic testing for shrimp and a resolution on Gulf Hypoxia.
- Approved pursuing legislation for front-of-package country-of-origin labeling for all seafood
- Approved amending MOU between LDWF and LDAF to test for three additional antibiotics
- Approved resolution on Gulf Hypoxia
- Approved motion to submit comment to USTR regarding unfair trade practices
- Approved request for LDWF to seek Sole Source qualification to extend SeaD Consulting contract for 4 months ($70,000)
- Recommended LDWF Commission allow special bait dealer permit holders to sell catch on the water
- Approved funding for 10 tickets to the 2026 LA Alive event in Washington, D.C.
- Approved December 18th meeting minutes