September 11, 2015 — In 1987, the State of Louisiana passed a law prohibiting Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries agents from enforcing federal turtle-excluder device regulations in shrimp trawls. Louisiana was the only state in the country with that law. Although some Louisiana shrimpers followed the TED regulations, the state law prohibiting enforcement sent the wrong message and prevented Louisiana from protecting marine life in its state waters.
Conviction After US Shrimp Mislabelling Case
August 27, 2015 — A North Carolina seafood processor and wholesale distributor faces a felony conviction after Federal prosecutors exposed the company’s shrimp mislabelling scheme.
The prosecution also resulted in a $100,000 fine, forfeiture of more than 20,000 pounds of shrimp and three years’ probation.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina joined forces to investigate and prosecute Alphin Brothers Inc., in a case that saw the company admit to falsely labelling tens of thousands of pounds of shrimp.
“This case is an example of coordinated law enforcement, both state and federal, working together with the tools they already have to crack down on fish fraud,” said Lisa Weddig, Secretary of the Better Seafood Board (BSB.)
Read the full story at The Fish Site
La. Congressman: US Should Exempt Returning H-2B Seafood Workers from Annual Quota Cap
July 7, 2015 — LOUISIANA — The Departments of Labor and Homeland Security are out of touch with what makes the Louisiana economy tick. Traveling across our state and talking to small business owners, I keep hearing that despite what regulations may come down from Washington, in the real world businesses have to work with the hand they’re dealt.
Unfortunately, arbitrary, nontransparent and inflexible methods the Department of Homeland Security uses to manage statutory caps on legal seasonal labor supporting Louisiana workers are limiting businesses’ options to the breaking point.
Not long ago, I was speaking with Frank Randol, a leader in the Louisiana seafood industry from my hometown of Lafayette and owner of the iconic Randol’s Seafood Restaurant. Frank relies on workers from other countries who come to America under the H-2B visa program, a temporary guest worker program that allows these workers to come to our country for a defined period of time to support and augment our workforce. A recent study shows that for every H-2B visa issued, four American jobs are sustained. Additionally, the Brookings Institution shows that Louisiana is one of the highest users of the H-2B visa program per capita in the country.
Read the full story at The Times-Picayune
LOUISIANA: Bobby Jindal signs bill allowing enforcement of turtle-excluder provisions
July 1, 2015 — Gov. Bobby Jindal signed a bill Wednesday (July 1) repealing a 1987 state law that prohibited Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents from enforcing federal turtle-excluder device regulations.
The repeal legislation, which the Louisiana House approved last month 100-0, also was unanimously endorsed by the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force in April after environmental groups have long pushed for better enforcement of the use of such devices in shrimp trawls. Often referred to as TEDs, they create an opening in shrimp nets to allow trapped turtles to escape before they drown.
“Today is a monumental day for our shrimp industry and will show the world that Louisiana fishermen and processors have always been concerned with the successful management of our shrimp fishery,” Mark Abraham, the shrimp task force’s chairman, said in a statement.
Read the full story from The Times-Picayune
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