Archive for October, 2020

NOAA Fisheries Announces a New and Improved Catch Shares Online System

gray triggerfish

NOAA Fisheries is currently developing an updated Catch Shares Online System. The new system will be hosted in a cloud application that should decrease the unexpected down-times in the future. As development of the new Catch Shares Online System is underway, NOAA Fisheries will be looking for volunteers, both shareholder…

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CARES Act Application Deadline Extended to November 23

Louisiana commercial fishing

Due to the impacts of hurricanes Laura and Delta, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is extending the application deadline by a month for the $14.6 million in financial assistance available to Louisiana’s fishing industry hurt financially by the COVID-19 pandemic. The original deadline was 11:59 p.m. Oct….

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Feedback Requested: Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program Alternative Options

derelict crab trap

Since 2004, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), together with individual volunteers and organizations, has successfully removed and disposed of over 45,000 abandoned and derelict crab traps. The removal of these crab traps is especially important to boating safety and crab harvesting efforts. Looking for possible options to…

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Louisiana Sea Grant’s Ocean Commotion Online

Ocean Commotion logo, for illustration only

The first Ocean Commotion was held in 1998 at LSU’s Field House. About 2,458 students and 374 teachers and chaperones spent that day exploring exhibits about some of our region’s coastal resources. Twenty-two years later, Louisiana Sea Grant (LSG) is hosting its first virtual Ocean Commotion due to COVID-19. LSG…

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Gov. Edwards announces program to help Louisiana shrimpers

raised TEDs and nets

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced today a $250,000 program that will pay part of the cost shrimp fishermen will have to pay for mandated devices to protect sea turtles and other animals from getting trapped in their nets. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will operate the Skimmer Turtle…

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Seafood HACCP Training Adapted Due to COVID-19

raw, headless shrimp moving through processing plant

Training in Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) is mandated for seafood processors, packers, wholesalers, importers, harvesters and warehouses by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Basic HACCP courses teach the principles of HACCP and empower processors to develop HACCP plans specific for each seafood product they handle or…

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Commission to Allow Oyster Lease Holders to Renew Leases by Mail

photo of three oyster boats in Gulf waters

Yesterday, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission voted to allow oyster leases to be renewed by mail for the 2020-2021 lease renewal period.  As has occurred in past years, oyster leases may also be renewed in person at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) office in New Orleans. …

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