Commercial Large Coastal Shark Possession Limit Increases to 55 - LA Fisheries Forward

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blacktip shark

Officials with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the daily possession limit for commercially harvested large coastal sharks (great hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, nurse shark, blacktip shark, bull shark, lemon shark, sandbar shark, silky shark, spinner shark, and tiger shark) is increasing from 45 to 55 per day on March 10, 2022.  The adjustment was made by Secretary Montoucet, as authorized by Wildlife and Fisheries Commission action in LAC 76.VII.357.H.2, after he was informed by NOAA Fisheries of a similar in-season adjustment in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The quota adjustment is a result of under harvest in the current quota year.  The commercial large coastal sharks season is scheduled to end on December 31, 2022.

LDWF would also like to remind commercial harvesters that the season for the harvest of all sharks is prohibited from April 1 through June 30 of each year for state-permitted commercial harvesters.

There is still no possession of sandbar sharks allowed unless a commercial fisherman has in their name and in possession a valid federal shark research permit as described in federal regulations (50 CFR 635.32(1)).

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.