Tracking The Oyster Harvest?

The state says it wants to track oyster boats working on public grounds.  This is the latest proposal from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.  That matter will be up for a public hearing before a final decision is made.The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Commission says they would carry this out with special devices that would tell fisheries officials where boats are and give them a better idea how much they are harvesting.

DWF says the technology - the first of its kind in the Gulf of Mexico region - would help officials know what areas are being harvested.  More than 700 oyster vessel permits are issued a year.  Officials say the VMS units will be provided to oyster boats at no cost.