Louisiana officials seek to push menhaden fishing boats 1 mile offshore after dead fish wash up

Louisiana officials are proposing that boats fishing for menhaden must be at least 1 mile offshore after boats spilled an estimated 850,000 of the small fish on Cameron Parish beaches in September. KPLC-TV reports the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries proposed the rule Thursday. Now, boats must only be a quarter of a mile offshore except around Grand Isle and two other islands. The new rule would continue to require a 3-mile distance off Grand Isle and impose a 3-mile distance off Rutherford Beach and Holly Beach in Cameron Parish. The rule comes after boats fishing for two menhaden processing companies suffered torn nets three times in mid-September, spilling fish on the beaches.