House Bill No. [insert bill number] introduced by Representative Orgeron aims to amend the current regulations surrounding commercial menhaden fishing by enacting R.S. 56:325.5(D). This new provision specifies that reports submitted to a legislative committee regarding commercial menhaden harvest data will not be considered confidential, thereby allowing for greater transparency in the reporting process. The bill provides an exception to the existing confidentiality requirements outlined in Paragraph (A)(3) of the same section and R.S. 56:301.4.

Under the proposed law, companies engaged in menhaden fishing using purse seines are still required to submit monthly reports that include critical data such as location, estimated harvest volume, and fish size. However, the new legislation ensures that any reports received by a legislative committee will be accessible to the public, promoting accountability and oversight in the commercial fishing industry.