The Louisiana Fisheries Forward (LFF) Crab Professionalism Program will reopen July 1, 2016, allowing commercial fishermen to obtain a new, commercial crab trap gear license. The LFF Crab Professionalism Program was designed to provide Louisiana crab fishermen with the knowledge and tools needed to compete in today’s local, national and global economy.

The Louisiana Fisheries Forward program was implemented in November 2014 and requires training for fishermen obtaining a crab trap gear license who did not possess a commercial crab trap gear license in two out of the four years, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Application packets and required course training material can be found at http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/crabtraining.

For general questions concerning this program please contact Darren Bourgeois at (504) 284-2033 or [email protected] or Richard Williams at (225) 765-0121 or [email protected].

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.la.gov. To receive recreational or commercial fishing email and text alerts, signup at http://www.wlf.la.gov/signup.