WHEREAS, Louisiana is blessed with abundant natural resources including an excellent largemouth bass fishery, and
WHEREAS, largemouth bass virus (LMBV) has been discovered in the state and has been the direct cause of extensive fish kills, and
WHEREAS, studies by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has shown that LMBV is not present in every water body in the state, and
WHEREAS, studies also indicate that LMBV can be spread by the movement of bass from one water body to another, and
WHEREAS, LDWF has requested that anglers release fish back to the water body where caught to avoid the spread of LMBV.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, to combat the spread of Largemouth Bass Virus and other fish diseases, the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges its members, other anglers and fishing clubs to refrain from transferring fish from one body of water to another, and to release fish not intended for consumption back to the waters where they were caught.
Adopted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation in convention assembled, 3 March 2002, in Marksville, Louisiana.