KEY TAKEAWAYS: Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed legislation that would have designated Atlantic tarpon as a Louisiana saltwater game fish. Supporters said the measure would improve future research, monitoring and conservation efforts for the species. Landry argued new regulations were unnecessary becau se there is no evidence of harvest pressure on tarpon. Wildlife officials classify Atlantic tarpon as a species of greatest conservation need due to declining populations and habitat concerns.   An attempt to bolster regulation and research for one of Louisiana’s most popular offshore sport fish species has been deep-sixed. Gov. Jeff Landry has vetoed a bill that would designate the Atlantic tarpon as a saltwater game fish in Louisiana, against the wishes of wildlife advocates. House Bill 688 by Rep. Joseph Orgeron, R-Cut Off, received unanimous support through the legislature and would have officially designated the Atlantic tarpon as a saltwater game fish in Louisiana. The official designation would have opened avenues to potentially regulate anglers’ ability to keep certain fish they catch through size limits, gear restrictions and state oversight. Known as the “silver king” of sportfish, tarpon are a favored catch among recreational anglers. They are well known for their fight on the line and display of above-water acrobatics. The Louisiana Wildlife Federation, a nonprofit advocacy group, supported the bill, saying it would ensure a solid foundation for “future research, monitoring and responsible management efforts” consistent with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries‘ priorities to preserve the species. Landry called the game fish designation as “unnecessary” in his veto message, saying it could lead to regulations that “do not actually help conservation” while placing limits on sportfishers. “There is no real harvest pressure on tarpon, and nothing in the science suggests we need new limits or restrictions to protect them. Louisiana’s anglers do not need more regulatory hurdles for their recreational activities,” the governor wrote.  Sport fishers are encouraged to release the tarpon they catch, but there are no state regulations on the quantity or size of fish that can be kept. Tarpon are not caught for eating, as their meat is described as smelly and bony. Atlantic tarpon favor the warm waters and estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico for breeding. They migrate to the Louisiana coast near the Chandeleur Islands, Breton Sound, Venice and Grand Isle, where they are found from May into the fall. Adult tarpon feed on menhaden, mullet and other bait fish that are abundant in the area. Tarpon populations are thought to be in decline over the past few decades, according to estimates from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. While no formal stock assessment has yet been done on Atlantic tarpon population numbers, decreased sightings and catches from fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico, loss of habitat and the limited migration research available indicate that Atlantic tarpon are a threatened species with the need for management. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries lists Atlantic tarpon as a “vulnerable” and among its species of “greatest conservation need” in its most recent State Wildlife Action Plan, citing the need for habitat conservation and a wider body of research on the species to better understand its declining population in state waters. ...read more read less