Louisiana House agrees to let state agents enforce sea turtle law - via Herp Digest

 May 08, 2015 BATON ROUGE, LA (AP) -

The Louisiana House has agreed to lift a ban that keeps state wildlife officials from enforcing federal laws requiring shrimp nets to include escape hatches for sea turtles.

The measure - sponsored by Rep. Dorothy Sue Hill, a Democrat from Dry Creek - was approved on a 98-0 vote Wednesday and now moves to the Senate for consideration

Hill says need for the measure arose from boycotts of Louisiana shrimp by some businesses and retailers who objected to the state's handling of protections for endangered and threatened sea turtles.

One provision of the bill would require state wildlife officials to wear body cameras while inspecting for violations. Another provision would make any retailer that boycotts Louisiana shrimp ineligible for state tax breaks and incentives.
House Bill 668: www.legis.la.gov