LA Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries

Severe Weather Halts Production at the Michael C. Voisin Oyster Hatchery

tanks for oyster larvae at Sea Grant hatchery in Grand Isle

The Michael C. Voisin Oyster Hatchery sustained some minor damage due to the severe weather that moved through the Grand Isle area on Tuesday, April 13th.  Oyster larvae production at the hatchery will be delayed until repairs can be made and utility services restored.  The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and…

Read More

Commercial Fishing For Aggregated Large Coastal And Hammerhead Sharks Closed

hooks on a basket

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced today that effective March 10 at 11:30p.m., commercial fishing for large coastal sharks in the aggregated large coastal and hammerhead groups (great hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, nurse shark, bull shark, lemon shark, sandbar shark, silky shark, spinner shark, and tiger…

Read More

Register for Additional Skimmer Turtle Excluder Device Reimbursement Program (STEDRP) Webinars

fishing boat at sea

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has scheduled additional required webinars for shrimpers who would like to receive Turtle Excluder Device reimbursement funds. On April 1, 2021, skimmer vessels 40 feet in length and over will be required by federal law to install turtle excluder devices (TEDs). The…

Read More

NOI to Restrict All Oyster Harvest On Four Proposed Broodstock Reefs

oyster shells

Today,  the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission passed a Notice of Intent (NOI) to add four proposed recreational oyster broodstock reefs to Louisiana Administrative Code (LAC) 76:VII.537, which restricts all oyster harvest on reefs listed under that rule.  The Department plans to construct all four reefs using oyster cultch material by…

Read More

LDWF Announces Process to Lift Oyster Moratorium

hands holding single oyster, with oysters in background

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is lifting the long-standing oyster lease moratorium, which has been in effect since 2002.  The moratorium, which halted LDWF’s practice of leasing state-owned water bottoms to private entities for oyster cultivation, was originally instituted by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission at…

Read More

Shrimp Season to Close in Portions of State Inshore and Outside Waters

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the 2020 fall shrimp season will close at official sunset on Sunday, January 24, in the following portions of the state inside and outside waters: Lake Pontchartrain, Chef Menteur and Rigolets Passes, Lake Borgne, Mississippi Sound, Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO), a…

Read More