LA Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries

LWFC Adopts Notice of Intent to Add Coastal Buffer Zones to Gulf Menhaden Harvest Regulations

menahden boats

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission has adopted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to add coastal buffer zones to Gulf menhaden harvest regulations. The proposed changes would modify the existing rule regarding where in Louisiana waters commercial harvest of gulf menhaden may occur.  The proposed changes would implement a coastwide…

Read More

LA Wildlife and Fisheries Commission Sets the 2021-2022 Oyster Season

Map of open oyster harvest areas for 2021-2022 season

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission set the 2021-2022 oyster season based on the annual oyster stock assessment provided by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologists and comments received from members of the public, including the oyster industry. The following dates were set for the upcoming oyster season:…

Read More

LA Wildlife and Fisheries Commission Designates Lake Barre as Temporary Natural Reef

Map of Lake Barre Temporary Natural Reef

Acting upon request of the oyster industry, state-owned water bottoms in Lake Barre, Terrebonne Parish, were designated as a Temporary Natural Reef today by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. Due to the overall declining availability of oyster resources on the public oyster seed grounds, the lack of available state-owned…

Read More

Recreational and Commercial Seasons For Lane Snapper Closing In Louisiana Waters

fishing rods on a boat

The recreational and commercial seasons for lane snapper in Louisiana waters will close at 12:01 a.m. on October 18, 2021, and will remain closed until January 1, 2022. The decision was made by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Jack Montoucet, following notification by NOAA Fisheries that the Federal…

Read More

Temporary TED Exemption for Skimmer Vessels 40’ in Length or Greater

shrimp boat at work

On September 9, 2021, the Honorable Jane Triche Milazzo, United States District Judge, granted a motion from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) for a preliminary injunction on the federal TED requirements on skimmer vessels 40 feet in length or greater.  This order delays implementation of the requirements of…

Read More

Additional Meeting Dates for Skimmer Turtle Excluder Device Reimbursement Program (STEDRP) Announced

raised TEDs and nets

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is extending the Skimmer Turtle Excluder Device Reimbursement Program (STEDRP), which will reimburse up to 60 percent of the cost for two skimmer TEDs. The goal of the Louisiana cost-share program is to provide financial relief to fishermen who need to purchase…

Read More

LDWF Warns Public of Potential Fish Kills Due to Hurricane Ida

Close up of redfish face

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) says it will investigate each one of the substantial fish kills it predicts throughout southeast Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. Hurricane-related fish kills are generally caused by low dissolved oxygen (DO), and can occur from landfall of the storm until weeks after the…

Read More

Saltwater Anglers: Complete Survey on Spotted Seatrout Management Options

men fishing in boat at sunrise

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has released an updated survey to gather public input on spotted seatrout management options. The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) directed the LDWF to conduct another survey on spotted seatrout management options prior to its October 2021 meeting.  This survey is…

Read More

SEFHIER Validation Survey to Start in September for Federally Permitted Charter Vessels

LDWF staff holding a cobra on boat

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries would like to remind those charter, headboat, and dually-permitted vessels that have a federal Gulf Charter Vessel /Headboat permit for Reef Fish or a Gulf Charter Vessel/Headboat permit for Coastal Migratory Pelagics (for-hire vessel) that the Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program (SEFHIER) validation…

Read More

LDWF Plans Four Crab Trap Closures Along Louisiana Coast

map of four crab trap closures in 2022

Since 2004, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has successfully removed and disposed of over 50,000 abandoned and derelict crab traps together with individual volunteers and organizations. The removal of these crab traps is critical to boating safety and crab harvesting efforts. Due to Covid-19, LDWF did not…

Read More