For Immediate Release
Contact: Sheila McCant
LA House of Representatives
Office of Public Information
Phone: (225) 342-9795
FAX: (225) 219-4380
March 28, 2001
COMPROMISE FOR SPORTSMEN SIGNEDLouisiana/Mississippi Officials Come to Terms Over Non-Resident Hunting/Fishing Fees
Representatives from Louisiana and Mississippi met today at the Mississippi state capitol to sign an agreement which they say will end the battle over non-resident hunting and fishing license fees charged in the two states.
State Representative Wilfred Pierre, D-Lafayette, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee and State Representative William Daniel, D-Baton Rouge, were among the delegation from Louisiana which met with Mississippi Senator Lynn Posey for the signing ceremony. The group has been working toward a compromise for some time.
Pierre said the compromise, which must be approved by the Louisiana Legislature, came about due to concerns by many hunters and fishers.
"The increase in fees created a hardship on many Louisiana sportsmen, which prompted us to contact Mississippi officials in an attempt to reach a compromise. I have been inundated with calls and letters from Louisiana citizens who complained that although they had been hunting and fishing in both states for years, they were not able to continue because of the fee increases."
Daniel, too, said he had also received numerous phone calls and letters on the issue.
"I believe this compromise will help all sportsmen. The fees in Mississippi created an unfair hardship on Louisiana hunters and this compromise will rectify this situation."
Under the compromise Louisiana will lower its annual non-resident saltwater fishing license from $110 to $90. A one-day non-resident saltwater fishing license for $20 will be created. A new license scheme for "mother ship type charter boat operations" will also be created. This type vessel license will cost $1,000 annually and will allow up to six skiffs to operate from the mother ship. For $2,000 annually up to eight skiffs will be able to operate from a mother ship. Further a mother ship/skiff license will cost $50 per skiff annually and a charter fishing trip license, good for three consecutive days, will cost $30 per person per trip.
In exchange Mississippi will lower its nonresident all game hunting license from $425 to $300 and the archery/primitive weapon license from $100 to $75.
The officials also agreed that the chairs of the Senate and House Natural Resources committees of both states, or their designees, will communicate in the future before increasing fees on non-resident hunting and fishing licenses in order to discuss the increases and make every effort possible to arrive at a compromise mutually agreeable to all parties.
Other members of the Louisiana delegation were Senate President John Hainkel, and state senators Robert Barham, Noble Ellington and Craig Romero, chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources.
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Louisiana and Mississippi officials sign agreement which ends the battle over nonresident hunting and fishing fees charged in the two states. From left: Louisiana Senate President John Hainkel, Louisiana state Rep. Wilfred Pierre, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee,Louisiana state Sen. Craig Romero, state Rep. William Daniel and Mississippi state Sen. Lynn Posey.