Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 76 - WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
Part XVII - Commercial Fisherman's Assistance Program
Chapter 3 - Net Buy-Back Program
Section XVII-301 - Criteria for Qualification; Procedures

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code XVII-301

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

A. Until January 1, 1996, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shall purchase from qualified persons those commercial fishing nets that have been rendered illegal or useless due to the enactment of the Louisiana Marine Resources Conservation Act of 1995 (Act 1316).

B. In order to qualify, persons must have applied for assistance under the Commercial Fisherman's Assistance Program on or before October 1, 1995, and must have met all of the following criteria:

1. must have purchased a saltwater gill net license in at least two of the years 1995, 1994, and 1993;

2. during two of those years shall have derived more than 50 percent of his earned income from the legal capture and sale of seafood species;

3. shall not have been convicted of any fishery-related offense that constitutes a Class 3 or greater violation; and

4. must have been a bona fide resident of Louisiana on June 30, 1995.

C.

1. Proof of income shall be provided by the applicant in the form of a copy of his federal tax return, including Schedule C of Federal Form 1040, which has been certified by the Internal Revenue Service. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries can provide the applicant with the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Form to request this. In the event that the certified copy of the tax return, including Schedule C, does not confirm the applicant's claim that more than 50 percent of the income was earned from the legal capture and sale of seafood species, the applicant shall provide a certified, audited return to that effect prepared and signed by a certified public accountant (CPA) which includes copies of all documents relied upon by the CPA in preparation of the audit. Said documentation shall be in the form of records which the applicant would rely on to document his return to the Internal Revenue Service. Tax returns for at least two of the years 1995, 1994, and 1993 shall be provided by the applicant. Fishermen applying for fishing permits which require proof that 50 percent of his income was derived from the legal capture and sale of seafood species may also qualify using the following alternative method.

2. Alternative Method. Provided a fisherman meets all other qualifications for obtaining a commercial fishing permit except for having a tax return in one of the years 1994 or 1993, he will be allowed to provide proof that 50 percent of his income was derived from the legal capture and sale of seafood species for the current calendar year 1995 along with a 1040 and Schedule C from 1994 or 1993 which meets the qualifying standard. Said proof of the nature and amount of his 1995 income shall be as follows with no exceptions.
a. Applicant shall submit to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries an affidavit signed by a certified public accountant (CPA) attesting to the audit of applicant's financial records and applicant's eligibility as defined by Act 1316.

b. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shall make available the affidavit referred to in Subparagraph C.2.a of this Section.

c. CPAs engaged by applicants to prepare financial data shall adhere to generally accepted accounting principals as recognized by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

d. The CPA shall require and accept documentation of applicant's financial transactions in the form normally acceptable to the IRS. The record keeping standards required by IRS shall be adhered to in the evaluation of applicant's documentation.

e. The CPA shall prepare a financial statement depicting and listing separately applicant's total earned income as well as his earned income derived solely from the capture and sale of seafood species. This financial statement shall represent the period beginning January 1, 1995 through September 30, 1995.

f. The CPA shall provide an unqualified opinion attesting to the nature and amount of the applicant's earned income and whether said income complies with the requirement that more than 50 percent of the applicant's earned income was derived from the legal capture and sale of seafood species.

g. The CPA shall provide copies to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (Licensing Section) of all financial documents relied upon in support of his unqualified opinion.

h. The alternative method of fulfilling the earned income requirement shall become obsolete and discontinued on May 1, 1996. Applicants qualifying under the alternative method subsequent to December 31, 1995 shall be allowed to acquire a temporary permit which will be valid only through May 1, 1996. Those applicants receiving a temporary fishing permit valid from January 1, 1996 through May 1, 1996 may reapply for the usual permit at no additional cost, provided said applicant can provide proof of earned income as described in Act 1316 for two 12-month periods (calendar years) including the years 1993, 1994 and 1995 exclusively.

i. Irrespective of the method used by applicant fishermen to qualify under the 50 percent earned income from the capture and sale of seafood species criteria, each applicant shall make available to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (Licensing Section) a certified copy of his Federal Income Tax return, including Schedule C of Federal Form 1040 prior to being issued any additional permits which require the 50 percent earned income test. Currently accepted 1040 and Schedule C Transcripts shall not be sufficient to qualify a permit applicant to renew or acquire a fishing permit beyond the period May 1, 1996. It is incumbent upon each permit applicant to obtain said 1040 and Schedule C information from the Internal Revenue Service.

D. Beginning September 1, 1995, qualified persons desiring to have their nets purchased by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries may obtain an application form provided by the department from any departmental district office; the completed form shall include all information necessary to assist in the determination of the eligibility status of the applicant. All requested information regarding size, type and number of nets must be provided. The completed form, along with proof of income as described herein, a copy of the applicants Louisiana driver's license, and copies of appropriate saltwater gill net licenses, shall be submitted no later than October 1, 1995, to the Commercial License Section of Wildlife and Fisheries located at 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge, LA or by mail to Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898. Applicants will be notified by mail as to the disposition of their application.

E. Only those nets that were legal for use in the saltwater areas of this state on June 1, 1995, and only those nets in usable condition, will be eligible for purchase under the provisions of Act 1316.

F. Applicants must have had a gear license issued in their name for at least one of the years 1995, 1994, or 1993, for the specific type of net(s) being presented for purchase. This is in addition to the requirements for having a saltwater gill net license for two of the three years.

G. Monetary reimbursement for nets to be purchased under this rule shall be determined based on the availability of funds collected from the issuance of the Louisiana Marine Resources Conservation Act Stamp. Funds collected through June 30, 1996, will be distributed as follows: 30 percent to the Enforcement Division of the department in accordance with the act; and the remaining 70 percent to be made available for the net buy-back portion of the Commercial Fisherman's Assistance Program. Subsequent to June 1996, 70 percent of the revenue collected from the LMRC Stamp will be used for the remainder of the Commercial Fisherman's Assistance Program as defined in Act 1316, R.S. 56:13(1)(C).

H. The disbursement of available funds for nets shall be calculated on a pro rata basis to accommodate the number of qualified applicants at a rate not to exceed 50 percent of the average cost of each qualifying net. The following is a schedule of the maximum amount to be paid for each type and size of net based upon 50 percent of the average standard 1995 catalog prices not including sales tax, shipping charges, or options. Actual prices to be paid will be limited by the number of qualifying nets and by the amount of revenue collected.

Mesh Depth

Gill Nets Price per Foot

Seines Price per Foot

4' -6'

$ 0.25

$ 0.76

Over 6' - 8'

$ 0.30

$ 0.80

Over 8' - 10'

$ 0.38

$ 0.87

Over 10' - 12'

$ 0.42

$ 0.92

Over 12' - 14'

$ 0.44

$ 0.96

Over 14'

$ 0.53

$1.02

Trammel Nets

Price per Foot

4' - 6'

$ .38

Over 6' - 8

$ .40

Over 8' - 10'

$ .43

Over 10'

$ .45

Fish Trawls

Complete

$ 11.22 per foot of trawl width

Trawl only

$ 6.84 per foot of trawl width

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 56:13.1.D.

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