Bill > A1438

Introduced Session

This bill would revise the law concerning the use of fish pumps to remove menhaden from purse seines in certain circumstances. This bill would allow a wet pump to be used to remove menhaden from a purse seine, provided that the fish pump is a wet pump, of either capsule or centrifugal design, and the pump discharge hose is placed at or below the vessel's water line in order to minimize the potential for excess aeration of surface waters in proximity to the fishing operation. Current law requires that the removal, from a purse seine, of fish harvested from the waters of the State be by brailing or dip net only and further provides that a fish pump may not be on board any vessel operating under a license for the purpose of taking menhaden for bait or human food purposes, unless the pump is completely covered and securely fastened with a brightly colored tarp or other material, and the pump intake or hose is disconnected from the pump and is securely stowed away from the pump so that it is not readily available for use when the vessel is fishing in State waters.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

John DiMaio (R)*,  Erik Simonsen (R)*,  Antwan McClellan (R), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document