Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 76 - WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES › Part III - Game and Fish Preserves and Sanctuaries › Chapter 3 - Particular Game and Fish Preserves, Wildlife Management Areas, Refuges and Conservation Areas › Section III-310 - Marsh Island Wildlife Refuge

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A.
				Visitor Regulations
1. Use of the refuge will
				be allowed from official sunrise to official sunset. This includes access
				routes through the refuge.
2.
				Overnight camping is prohibited.
3.
				Hunting, pursuing, killing, molesting or intentionally disturbing any type of
				wildlife by the public is prohibited. This does not prohibit the Department of
				Wildlife and Fisheries from carrying out harvest programs for certain types of
				wildlife as specified in the Deed of Donation and/or Memorandum of
				Agreement.
4. Trawling on the
				refuge is prohibited. Trotlines, jug lines, trammel and gill nets and traps are
				prohibited. All commercial fishing and use of any commercial fishing gear on
				the refuge is prohibited. Twenty-five pounds of shrimp (heads on) per boat or
				vehicle per day is allowed during the inside open shrimp season as established
				by the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. Ten pounds of shrimp (heads on) for
				bait purposes may be caught during the closed season. Shrimp may be harvested
				only by cast net on the refuge and only for sport fishing or home consumption
				use.
5. Crawfish may be harvested
				from the open portion of the refuge and 100 pounds per boat or vehicle is
				allowed per day. Set nets may be used but must be attended and removed from the
				refuge daily. No commercial harvest is allowed.
6. Crabs may be harvested from the open
				portion of the refuge and 12 dozen crabs are allowed per boat or vehicle per
				day. No commercial harvest is allowed.
7. Oysters may be harvested by tonging
				(properly licensed) or by hand collection from the natural reefs. One gallon
				per boat or vehicle per day is allowed and oysters must be opened at the reef
				and the shells returned to the reef. Taking of oysters on the reef is dependent
				upon Department of Health and Hospitals' approval and may be closed at any time
				by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
8. The burning of the marsh by the public is
				prohibited. Water control structures shall not be tampered with or altered by
				anyone other than employees of the Department of Wildlife and
				Fisheries.
9. Bringing firearms,
				bows and arrows, liquor and controlled dangerous substances (drugs) onto the
				refuge is prohibited. All boats and vehicles are subject to search by all
				authorized employees of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries at
				anytime.
10. Speed boat racing and
				water skiing are prohibited. All boat traffic shall honor no wake zones and
				shall keep wave wash to a minimum. Pulling boats over or around levees, dams or
				water control structures is prohibited. The Department of Wildlife and
				Fisheries may further restrict specified areas of the refuge from public access
				or use.
11. No littering is
				allowed. Visitors must remove their litter or place litter in appropriate
				litter disposal sites. Damage to or removal of trees, shrubs and wild plants
				without prior approval is prohibited.
12. Commercial fishing gear or trawls shall
				not be permitted in possession while participating in sport fishing on refuge.
				Commercial fishing gear may be in possession for nonstop access directly across
				refuge or for safe harbor only.
13.
				Enforcement officials shall have the duty and the right to restrict access to
				the island, even for the purpose herein enumerated, whenever the circumstances
				exist that such access may impair the primary purpose of the island as a
				wildlife refuge and sanctuary.