HB628 • 2026

Menhaden fish; prohibit the taking and catching of within one mile of the southern shoreline of the Mississippi coastal barrier islands.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-15-79, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE JACKSON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, IN THE COUNTIES WHERE IT IS PROHIBITED FOR ANY PERSON, FIRM OR CORPORATION TO USE OR ATTEMPT TO USE A PURSE SEINE FOR THE TAKING OF FISH OR TO HAVE SUCH SEINE IN THE WATER WITHIN ONE MILE OF THE SHORELINE; TO AMEND SECTION 49-15-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT THE TAKING AND CATCHING OF MENHADEN WITHIN ONE MILE OF THE SOUTHERN SHORELINE OF THE MISSISSIPPI COASTAL BARRIER ISLANDS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Anderson (122nd)
Last action: 2026-02-12
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not provide specific details on how it would affect existing fishing practices or enforcement along the coast.

Protecting Menhaden Fish Near Coastal Islands

This bill makes it illegal to catch menhaden fish within one mile of the southern shoreline of Mississippi's coastal barrier islands.

What This Bill Does

Adds Jackson County, Mississippi, to a list of counties where using a purse seine for catching fish is not allowed within one mile of the shoreline.
Prohibits anyone from using or attempting to use a purse seine to catch menhaden within one mile of the southern shoreline of the coastal barrier islands in Mississippi.

Who It Names or Affects

Fishermen and fishing companies who use purse seines to catch menhaden near the coast.
Local government boards in Jackson County, Hancock County, Harrison County, and those managing coastal barrier islands.

Terms To Know

purse seine: A type of fishing net that is used to encircle schools of fish near the surface of the water.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass during the session and will not become law.
It is unclear how this would affect existing fishing practices or enforcement along the coast.

Bill History

2026-02-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/12 (H) Died On Calendar
2026-01-28 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/28 (H) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-01-13 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/13 (H) Referred To Marine Resources

Official Summary Text

Menhaden fish; prohibit the taking and catching of within one mile of the southern shoreline of the Mississippi coastal barrier islands.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 628 *HR26/R1632* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R1632
PAGE 1 (MCL\KW)

To: Marine Resources
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Anderson (122nd)

HOUSE BILL NO. 628

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-15-79, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO INCLUDE JACKSON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, IN THE COUNTIES WHERE IT 2
IS PROHIBITED FOR ANY PERSON, FIRM OR CORPORATION TO USE OR 3
ATTEMPT TO USE A PURSE SEINE FOR THE TAKING OF FISH OR TO HAVE 4
SUCH SEINE IN THE WATER WITHIN ONE MILE OF THE SHORELINE; TO AMEND 5
SECTION 49-15-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT THE TAKING 6
AND CATCHING OF MENHADEN WITHIN ONE MILE OF THE SOUTHERN SHORELINE 7
OF THE MISSISSIPPI COASTAL BARRIER ISLANDS; AND FOR RELATED 8
PURPOSES. 9
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 10
SECTION 1. Section 49-15-79, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 11
amended as follows: 12
49-15-79. (1) (a) Except as otherwise provided in 13
subsection (b) of this section, it is unlawful for any person, 14
firm or corporation to use or attempt to use a purse seine for the 15
taking of fish or to have such seine in the water within one (1) 16
mile of the shoreline of the County of Jackson, Hancock or 17
Harrison in the State of Mississippi. The Boards of Supervisors 18
of Hancock, Harrison and Jackson Counties shall have the authority 19
to submit proposed regulations to the commission to regulate 20
within their respective counties the use of and trammel nets. The 21
H. B. No. 628 *HR26/R1632* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1632
PAGE 2 (MCL\KW)
ST: Menhaden fish; prohibit the taking and
catching of within one mile of the southern
shoreline of the Mississippi coastal barrier
islands.
commission may consider all such proposals submitted by the boards 22
of supervisors in formulating regulations to be promulgated under 23
this section. 24
(b) It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to 25
use or attempt to use a purse seine for the taking of menhaden or 26
to have such seine in the water within one (1) mile of the 27
southern shoreline of the Mississippi coastal barrier islands. 28
(2) A person, firm or corporation convicted of a violation 29
of this section or regulations promulgated under this section 30
shall be punished by the penalties provided in Section 31
49-15-100(2), Mississippi Code of 1972. 32
SECTION 2. Section 49-15-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 33
amended as follows: 34
49-15-35. * * * The taking and catching of menhaden is 35
prohibited within * * * one (1) mile of the southern shoreline of 36
the Mississippi coastal barrier islands. 37
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 38
and after July 1, 2026. 39