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A bill designed to protect oyster harvesting in Calcasieu (Big) Lake was defeated in the House Wednesday.

Sen. Dan “Blade” Morrish, R-Jennings, had better success with his legislation dealing with boating safety.
It was approved 35-0 and goes to the governor for ratification.
The House vote against the Morrish oyster bill was 53-42. It had been approved 35-0 by the state Senate.
Current law allows oyster harvesting in the lake using tongs, a hand dredge, a single dredge with a mechanical assist that has a tooth bar or by a single scraper with a mechanical assist and a flat bar.
The bill would have prohibited oyster harvesting in Big Lake except by special permit issued by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
It would have also provided harvest limits for recreational fishermen.
Commercial oyster harvesters would have had to show proof they were engaged in harvesting for three years during 2007 through 2010.
The proposal also set up a lottery system for special permits and would have allowed the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to set the seasons and harvest limits.
Penalties were also set in the bill.
Rep. Joe Harrison, R-Houma, succeeded in adding an amendment that set up similar rules for oyster harvesting in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes. Rep. Dorothy Sue Hill, D-Dry Creek, was the only Southwest Louisiana legislator to vote against the bill.