Louisiana
Fewer fish spills reported after Louisiana pushes pogy boats from coast • Louisiana Illuminator
In 2022, a menhaden fishing ship and its net boats spilled about a million fish off the Louisiana coast, leaving the floating mass to rot in the summer sun. A few months later, another spill blanketed Louisiana beaches with an estimated 850,000 dead fish.
The two incidents pushed the state’s leaders to enact the first significant restrictions on the Gulf of Mexico’s largest but least-regulated fishery. Starting this year, catchers of menhaden, a foot-long fish with a host of industrial uses, must stay a half mile from much of the Louisiana coast and a mile from three ecologically sensitive areas.
The aim is to reduce the number of net tears in shallow water and ease tensions with recreational fishing and conservation groups who say the menhaden industry is damaging habitat, wasting fish that other species depend on for food and killing threatened fish that are often snagged in nets as bycatch.
As the first season with the half-mile buffer zone winds down this week, backers of the new rules are celebrating a dramatic reduction in fish spills. Just over 350,000 fish have been lost this year, a significant drop from the 1.3 million fish the industry has averaged each year over the past decade, according to an analysis by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, a group that has lobbied for tougher menhaden fishing rules.
“This data indicates that the efforts to move the industrial (menhaden) boats into deeper waters to protect nearshore, shallow habitat is paying off,” said Chris Macaluso, the partnership’s marine fisheries director.
But the menhaden industry says better nets rather than bigger buffers have played a far bigger role in reducing spills. The two foreign-owned companies that dominate the U.S. commercial menhaden fishery have replaced most of their rip-prone nylon nets with ones made of stronger materials, said Francois Kuttel, president of Westbank, the fishing arm of Daybrook Fisheries.
“It’s ten times stronger than steel and very light, but also very expensive,” he said, estimating it cost his company about $500,000 for 12 new nets. “Having fewer spills has nothing to do with buffer zones. It has everything to do with the investments we’ve made.”
Ocean Harvesters, the company that fishes for Omega Protein, also credited new nets for fewer spills.
“The combination of these new nets, and a renewed commitment from captains to be more mindful of net tears at sea, has been the primary factor behind the decrease in incidents, with only two occurring in 2024,” said Ben Landry, a spokesman for Ocean Harvesters and Omega Protein.
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Also called pogy and fatback, menhaden form a foundational part of the Gulf’s food web, providing calorie-rich food for dolphins, sharks, pelicans and dozens of other marine animals.
Between 600 million and 900 million menhaden are caught in the Gulf each year, making it by far the region’s largest fishery. Louisiana’s better-known catches — shrimp, crab, crawfish and oysters — don’t amount to a third of the menhaden caught in state waters.
Much of the menhaden catch is ground up at large processing plants and then mixed into fertilizers, pig feed, cat food, fish oil pills and other uses. Bony and loaded with oil, menhaden are rarely eaten by people.
The menhaden industry opposed Louisiana’s new buffers, warning that having to fish farther from the coast would make catching menhaden harder and more costly. So far, the industry says the predictions have come true.
“This is having a significant financial impact,” Kuttel said. “The company will lose money this year.”
He declined to cite specific numbers but said some fishing captains who work on commission have had their earnings reduced by as much as 30%.
Menhaden fishing operations involve spotter airplanes that locate the fish, which form large schools within a mile or two from the shore. “Motherships” with 1 million fish-capacities deploy smaller boats that encircle the schools in long nets called purse seines.
At least 44 large-scale spills have happened in Louisiana waters between 2020 and 2023, with the tally rising from two in 2020 to 18 last year, according to Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries records.
Net tears caused about half the spills over the four years. Mechanical failures and overloaded nets were also listed as common causes in LDWF incident reports.
The industry has blamed the incidents on sharks biting through nets to eat menhaden and crews miscalculating the weight and volume of some net loads.
While the Gulf’s menhaden population appears relatively stable, conservation and recreational fishing groups are concerned that the industry is taking food from predator species like dolphins, speckled trout, and redfish, which have suffered population declines in recent years. The groups also worry that nets and fishing vessels are raking across sensitive seafloor habitats.
All other Gulf states either prohibit menhaden fishing or have such strict rules that the industry now focuses entirely on the Louisiana coast, which sets no catch limits and has only recently begun limiting near-shore fishing, first with a quarter-mile buffer and then this year’s half-mile buffer. Virginia is the only other state where large-scale menhaden fishing is still active.
Almost all commercially caught menhaden are processed by two companies — Daybrook, which is owned by Oceana Group of South Africa, and Omega Protein, a subsidiary of Cooke Inc. of Canada. The parent companies have ownership links, staffing overlaps and exclusive purchase agreements with the companies that handle the fishing operations.
The Gulf menhaden industry supports 2,000 jobs and generates about $25 million in state and local tax revenue each year, according to a Westbank spokesperson.
Recreational fishing has even more of an economic impact, say the buffer’s proponents. Anglers who fish the state’s coastal waters support three times as many jobs and produce double the annual tax revenue, according to data from LDWF.
Fishing groups say anglers have noticed an uptick in menhaden, mullet and other forage fish in the buffer zone this year. That, they hope, will lead to better fishing for sought-after catches like trout and redfish.
“Louisianans are fed up with our resources being wasted and shorelines being fouled” from menhaden spills, said David Cresson, CEO of the Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana. “It’s refreshing to see this progress.”
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This article first appeared on Verite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana Illuminator) – Hundreds of meticulously labeled vials filled with mosquitos line colorful plastic trays inside a freezer at the Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Baton Rouge.
Each vial sitting atop the frosty shelves, aligned in rows like egg cartons on a grocery store shelf, contains up to a hundred mosquitoes sent to the lab from across the state. Scientists can extract information hidden within the mosquitos’ DNA to help stop the spread of diseases to humans and keep infections at bay.
“Look at your electric bill,” said Alma Roy, director of the lab housed at Louisiana State University. When it costs more to keep your home comfortably cool, that’s when the airborne pests — and the viruses they carry — flourish and circulate.
“When it’s wet and hot, the mosquito is out there reproducing and biting,” Roy said.
The spindly black bugs aren’t picky about what they bite, picking up diseases like West Nile virus from animals like birds and passing them on to humans.
The Louisiana Arbovirus Surveillance Program helps health professionals, entomologists and local mosquito control districts stay apprised on where a disease crops up.
Mosquito control organizations at the parish level across the state capture mosquitoes and pack them into vials. The vials are stuffed into small white boxes and shipped weekly to the lab in Baton Rouge. Around 30 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes participate in the voluntary surveillance program every year, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.
Each year the lab tests 25,000 vials of mosquitos, which are called pools in the lab. In total, the tests involve up to 2.5 million individual insects, but it can’t be done one mosquito at a time.
“We take the whole pool and puree them,” Roy said.
Lab technician Tarra Hardy adds a mixing solution and a copper ball to mash up the pool before a machine blends the sample.
The result resembles a small mosquito smoothie, which is placed into a machine that analyzes the contents and shows its findings on a computer screen. Colorful spikes on a graph show when a sample tests positive for West Nile, eastern equine encephalitis or St. Louis encephalitis — the most common diseases the lab detects.
Hardy said it only takes around 48 hours for the lab to test a sample, so mosquito control personnel can get information on where a disease is spreading fast enough to contain it.
Sarah Michaels, a clinical associate professor with Tulane University’s Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, works as a medical entomologist who focuses on insects that carry diseases passed by arthropods, known by scientists as arboviruses. This includes mosquitos, ticks and flies that can be vectors for disease.
The ability of the testing lab in Baton Rouge to turn around its test results quickly allows local mosquito abatement efforts to get out in front of mosquito-borne diseases before they spread, Michaels said. With the geographic location of a positive test result pinpointed, abatement crews can go on the offensive, and the public can take preventative measures.
“That’s kind of why it’s important for us to know if the virus is circulating locally, so we can give people information so they can take precautions to protect themselves against mosquito bites,” she said.
Spraying insecticide by truck, plane or helicopter kills the adult mosquitoes, and Michaels said larvicide is applied in areas with standing water, to halt their development. This typically uses naturally occurring bacteria only harmful to developing mosquito eggs.
The majority of West Nile cases reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control are between June and October, with steep drop offs when cooler temperatures curb mosquito breeding.
But Michaels described how, with summertime temperatures starting sooner and lasting later in the year and frequent storms bringing in standing water perfect for mosquitoes to live and reproduce in, keeping a watchful eye is more important than ever.
“Mosquito season, which is getting longer and longer here, is kind of near the peak of it right now, June through September,” she said. “Surveillance really zeroes in on where and when it’s happening, and then hopefully can suppress those mosquito populations before that becomes widespread and puts more people at risk.”
West Nile was first detected in the United States in Queens, York, in the late 1990s and spread around the country. The virus was first detected in Louisiana in August 2001 when an infected crow in Kenner tested positive. That fall, it showed up in horses from three coastal parishes, along with Louisiana’s first human West Nile case.
Case numbers climbed to their highest point nationally in 2003 with about 9,800, and the count has remained relatively stable below 3,000 cases over the past 10 years.
“It can be mild and transient, but it can be really severe as well,” Michaels said
West Nile virus is relatively uncommon, affecting less than 5,000 people in the United States in a typical year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. By comparison, the most prominent flu strain in 2024-25 infected more than 51 million people, the CDC reported.
While most cases of West Nile don’t produce any symptoms, those that do usually cause mild, flu-like reactions like fever and muscle aches. Symptoms can last anywhere from days to weeks.
If the virus enters the central nervous system, it can result in complications such as brain swelling and paralysis. Less than 1% of people infected develop symptoms this severe, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, but some cases can require hospitalization or even result in death.
Louisiana recorded four West Nile-related deaths last year and three in 2024. No human infections have been reported this year as of early July.
Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com. Follow Louisiana Illuminator on Facebook and X.
Copyright 2026 Louisiana Illuminator. All rights reserved.
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Louisiana health officials are tracking a rise in cases of cyclosporiasis, a stomach illness caused by a parasite that can be found on contaminated food or in contaminated water.
The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed 23 cases of Cyclospora infection in the state, according to information obtained by Louisiana Illuminator. One person has been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported in Louisiana.
The number is slightly above Louisiana’s recent average. LDH said the state has averaged 20 reported cases over the same time period during the past five years.
“Because many of these cases are still under investigation, this number is preliminary and subject to change,” an LDH representative said.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes an intestinal illness called cyclosporiasis. The CDC says people can get sick after eating food or drinking water contaminated with the parasite.
The illness is often associated with fresh produce. Past outbreaks in the United States have been linked to items such as leafy greens, herbs and berries.
Symptoms usually begin about a week after a person eats or drinks something contaminated, though the CDC says symptoms can appear anywhere from two days to two weeks or more after infection.
The most common symptom is watery diarrhea, sometimes with frequent and explosive bowel movements. Other symptoms can include stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite and low-grade fever.
If left untreated, the illness can last from a few days to more than a month. Symptoms can also go away and then return.
Health officials say cyclosporiasis is not likely to spread directly from one person to another. The CDC says Cyclospora must spend at least one to two weeks in the environment after passing in a bowel movement before it becomes infectious.
Cases typically rise during warmer months. The CDC considers May 1 through Aug. 31 the yearly cyclosporiasis season.
Louisiana is not the only state tracking cases. The CDC said in its June 16 update that it had received reports of 145 domestically acquired cases in 17 states, with 20 hospitalizations and no deaths. Federal officials said there was no evidence at that time of one single multistate outbreak linking all cases, but several clusters remained under investigation.
Since that update, some states have reported larger increases. Michigan has reported one of the largest outbreaks in the country, with over 700 cases.
Federal and state health officials have not identified a clear source for the current illnesses.
The CDC says people with symptoms should contact a health care provider. Testing for Cyclospora may require a specific lab test that is not always part of routine stool testing.
Health officials recommend washing hands before handling food, rinsing fresh produce under running water and cooking vegetables when possible. Washing produce can reduce the risk, though it may not remove all Cyclospora from contaminated food.
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The future North Lafayette library will expand learning opportunities while honoring the lifelong impact of the Louisiana education and civil rights leader.
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Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) has officially designated the Northeast Regional Library as the Norman C. Francis Library, recognizing the lifelong legacy of one of Louisiana’s most influential educators and civil rights leaders.
The Lafayette Parish Council approved the naming, cementing a tribute to the late Francis, whose decades of leadership in higher education and public service helped shape opportunities for generations of Louisianans.
The new library will serve as the cornerstone of North Lafayette’s ongoing revitalization efforts through the Holy Rosary Redevelopment initiative while expanding access to educational resources, technology and community programming.
“By bringing a new chapter of opportunity for residents on the Northside of Lafayette, this library stands as a fitting tribute to one of the most influential educators and civic leaders in Louisiana’s history,” Lafayette Mayor-President Monique B. Boulet said.
Boulet added that Francis dedicated his life to expanding access to education and creating opportunities for others.
“It is only fitting that this library, a place of learning, discovery, and community, bears his name for generations to come,” Boulet said.
Norman C. Francis’ legacy honored in Lafayette
Born in Lafayette in 1931, Francis dedicated his life to expanding educational access and advancing social justice.
In 1952, he became the first African American to enroll at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. After earning his law degree, he joined Xavier University of Louisiana in 1957 before serving as the university’s president from 1968 through 2015, making him one of the longest-serving university presidents in the United States.
His influence extended far beyond higher education. Francis advised eight U.S. presidents, led the Louisiana Recovery Authority following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush in 2006.
Francis died in February 2026 at the age of 94, but community leaders say his impact continues to inspire future generations.
Northeast Regional Library’s Upgrades
Conceptual design plans for the new Northeast Regional Library were presented to the Lafayette Public Library System Board on June 29.
The planned facility will encompass 20,533 square feet on a 6.5-acre site and include:
- Space for 44,000–53,000 library materials.
- 37 public computer stations.
- Children’s and teen areas.
- STE(A)M learning and maker spaces.
- Study rooms and quiet reading areas.
- Walking paths and music garden.
- Interactive displays.
- 119 parking spaces, including six ADA-accessible.
Community leaders celebrate library naming
State Sen. Gerald Boudreaux said the designation reflects years of work by local leaders and residents to bring the long-planned Northside library to fruition.
“I would like to thank the Boulet Administration, the Lafayette City and Parish Councils, and most importantly the many community members and organizations that remained committed for years to making this vision a reality,” Gerald Boudreaux said. “Dustin Cravins and the Holy Rosary Redevelopment Committee have developed a master plan that will positively transform this historic property while honoring the remarkable legacy of Dr. Norman C. Francis.”
City Council Chair Kenneth Boudreaux said the project represents a decades-long investment in North Lafayette.
“Seeing this library become a reality is deeply personal. I was honored to help secure the initial funding for this project years ago because I believed the north side of Lafayette deserved a first-class library that would serve generations to come,” Kenneth Boudreaux said. “To now see it bear the name of Dr. Norman C. Francis, a man whose life was defined by education, opportunity, and service, is a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community refuses to stop believing in its future.”
Parish Councilman Abraham “AB” Rubin Jr. called the naming a symbol of perseverance.
“There were times when this project faced real uncertainty, but our community never gave up because we knew this library was worth fighting for,” Rubin, Jr said. “Dr. Norman C. Francis spent his life opening doors for others and believing in possibilities that many thought were out of reach. Naming this library in his honor reflects that same spirit of perseverance and hope to future generations.”
City Councilman Elroy Broussard said the library will become an educational anchor for North Lafayette.
“As a former member of the Lafayette Parish School Board, I know that libraries are not just brick and mortar, but are gateways to learning and opportunity,” Broussard said. “This library will touch countless lives across the northern parts of Lafayette, and there is no more fitting namesake than Dr. Norman C. Francis, whose extraordinary legacy will remind every young person who will walk through its doors that education has the power to transform lives.”
For additional information about the Northeast Regional Library project and design plans, visit the Lafayette Public Library’s Northeast Regional Library information page.
Aaron Gonsoulin is the General Assignment/Trending Reporter for The Daily Advertiser. Contact him at AGonsoulin@theadvertiser.com.
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