Emergency oyster rule adopted by committee

The House Natural Resources Committee unanimously passed legislation last week that would allow oyster farmers to avoid a federal rule that many inside the industry describe as burdensome. Due to federal regulations, Louisiana oyster harvesters will only have one hour to transport their product from the water to refrigeration during the period of May 1 to Oct. 31 each year. This is traditionally the hottest time in South Louisiana — and the season health officials worry most about Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus, which are naturally occurring marine bacteria in warmer waters that can make people with pre-existing conditions or weak immune systems ill. Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commissioner Mike Voisin, owner of Motivatit Seafoods, calls it an “undue burden” that will put fishermen in a pinch if they don’t own what amounts to very expensive equipment. That’s why Rep. Girod Jackson, D-Harvey, is pushing House Bill 245 to allow a five hour time limit, but only for oysters sold inside Louisiana. “It’s like milk, where you can have pasteurized milk as long as you sell it inside your own state,” Voisin says. He adds that oyster harvesters will have to use a system of different colored tags to accomplish this task. In order to beat the May 1 effective date of the new federal regulations, committee members amended the legislation so that the proposed five-hour time limit would go onto Louisiana’s books as soon as Gov. Bobby Jindal signs the bills — considering he backs the plan and it is first passed by the House and Senate. House Bill 245 is now pending final action on the House floor. — Jeremy Alford