The Artificial Reef Program (Program) is responsible for the planning, siting, material selection, permitting, and monitoring oversight of inshore artificial reef development. Inshore reefs are those artificial reefs developed solely in Louisiana state waters between the Louisiana Intracoastal Waterway and the Louisiana coastline and within Lake Pontchartrain. Nearshore waters are…
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will be opening its offices in phases beginning Friday, May 15, at its headquarters in Baton Rouge and across the state on Monday, May 18. The Baton Rouge office, located at 2000 Quail Drive, is opening earlier to focus on the large…
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission adopted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to modify commercial and recreational minimum size limits for cobia. The proposed changes would modify the existing rule on the minimum commercial and recreational size limits for cobia from 33 inches fork length to 36 inches fork length. …
Today, May 7, 2020, two actions were taken to open the 2020 inshore and offshore shrimp season. The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission set the opening dates for the state inshore waters based on information provided by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) biologists and public comments. The…
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council would like to gain a better understanding of greater amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico. It is seeking information from anglers and divers about what they have observed, including any “strange things,” that scientists and managers may need to know. Scientists are currently…
This final rule allows eligible historical captains the opportunity to replace their historical captain permits with standard federal charter/headboat for-hire permits for the reef fish and coastal migratory pelagic fisheries. An eligible captain is one that had a valid, non-expired, or renewable historical captain permit as of October 25, 2018,…
NOAA Fisheries announces a final rule modifying the greater amberjack commercial trip limit in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and adjusting the state/federal boundary of several areas for reef fish management. WHEN THIS RULE WILL TAKE EFFECT: Regulations will be effective May 14, 2020. WHAT THIS MEANS: The greater amberjack…
LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant developed a guidance document (in English and Spanish) for seafood processors to keep their workers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic: Guidance for Seafood Processing Plants During COVID-19, and Respuesta a Emergencia de Salud Pública para Procesadores de Pescado y Mariscos durante COVID-19. They can…
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced that the portion of state outside waters between Calliou Boca and the Atchafalaya River Ship Channel at Eugene Island shall reopen to shrimping at 12:00 p.m. (noon) on April 17, 2020. The area to open is defined as follows: The eastern boundary…
Recently, LDWF has had to respond to several fake news articles, one regarding increased fishing fines and, most recently, the supposed forced closure of hunting and fishing season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. None of it is true. Any valid information regarding LDWF actions is on our website at www.wlf.la.gov…