La. Rev. Stat. § 56:495 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 495
Defining inside and outside waters
Status: in_force

A. Solely for the purpose of this Subpart, the shrimping waters of the state are divided into two classes, inside and outside waters. The line of demarcation of the classes of water shall commence at the coastal boundary between Texas and Louisiana and terminate at the coastal boundary between Mississippi and Louisiana and is more particularly described as follows, to wit:

(1) Beginning at a point on the state line between Texas and Louisiana from "Texas Point", approx. lat. 29°41'00" N. and long. 93°50'15" W.

(2) Thence approx. N. 23°16' E., approx. 4000' to the southeast point of land of the Sabine Pass (Louisiana Point), lat. 29°41'42" N. long. 93°50'03" W.

(3) Thence in an easterly direction along the shoreline to the southwest point of land of Calcasieu Pass, approx. lat. 29°45'44" N. long. 93°20'45" W.

(4) Thence north for approximately 2.37 nautical miles along the western shore of the Calcasieu Ship Channel at lat. 29° 48' 06" N. long. 93° 20' 54" W.

(4.1) Thence east to the point of land on the Calcasieu Ship Channel on the north side of the old river channel at lat. 29° 48' 05" N. long. 93° 20' 41" W.

(4.2) Thence following the eastern shore of the old river channel back around to the Calcasieu Ship Channel thence south along the eastern shore of the Calcasieu Ship Channel to the most southern point of land at lat. 29° 45' 43" N. long. 93° 20' 33" W.

(5) Thence easterly along shore to the most southwesterly point of land, lat. 29°45'30" N. long. 93°07'30" W. at the mouth of the Mermentau River.

(6) Thence S. 78°15' E. for approx. 4000' to a point of land at lat. 29°45'21" N. long. 93°06'15" W. on the southeast side of the mouth of the Mermentau River.

(7) Thence along the shore to a point of land on the southwest side of Southwest Pass, lat. 29°35'15" N. long. 92°02'32" W.

(8) Thence S. 65°45' E. to Lighthouse Point on the southeast side of Southwest Pass and the most westerly point of Marsh Island, lat. 29°34'39" N., long. 92°02'06" W.

(9) Thence along south shoreline to a point of land on the southeast side of Marsh Island known as South Point, lat. 29°29'15" N. long. 91°45'48" W.

(10) Thence S. 74° 10' E. for approximately 52,786' to a platform at lat. 29°26'54" N. long. 91°36'13" W.

(11) Thence S. 68°19" E. for approximately 57,515' to Eugene Island lat. 29°22'20" N. long. 91°23'03" W.

(12) Thence S. 35°05' E. for approx. 16,000' to the most westerly point of land on Pointe Au Fer Island, known as Pointe Au Fer, approx. lat. 29°19'59" N. long. 91°21'09" W.

(13) Thence along the south shoreline to a point of land on the southwest side of the mouth of Oyster Bayou, lat. 29°13'12'' N. long. 91°07'53" W.

(14) Thence E. for approx. 1,000' to the point on the southeast shore of Oyster Bayou, lat. 29°13'12" N. long. 91° 07'48" W.

(15) Thence along the south shore to a most southeasterly point of land on the west side of Bayou DeWest, lat. 29°11'01" N. long. 91°03'41" W.

(16) Thence N. 80° E. for approx. 7,427' to the most southerly point of land on Pelican Island, lat. 29°11'13" N. long. 91°02'19" W.

(17) Thence S. 81° E. for approx. 3,122' to the most southerly point of an island between Pelican Pass and Taylors Bayou, lat. 29°11'09" N. long. 91°01'44" W.

(18) Thence S. 45° E. for approximately 3,707' to a point of land on the southeast side of the mouth of Taylors Bayou, lat. 29°10'43" N. long. 91°01'14" W.

(19) Thence S. 68° E. for approx. 3,286' to the most southeasterly point of land at the mouth of Jack Stout Bayou, lat. 29°10'31" N. long. 91°00'39" W.

(20) Thence along the south shoreline to a pipeline sign on the most easterly point of land on the west side of the mouth of Grand Bayou du Large, lat. 29°11'01" N. long. 90°57'49" W.

(21) Thence N. 80°07' E. for approximately 3,510' to a point at the mouth of Fish Bayou, lat. 29°10'55" N. long. 90°57'10" W.

(22) Thence in a southeast direction along the shoreline to the southeasterly most point on the west shore of Bayou Grand Caillou lat. 29°10'27" N. long. 90°56'39" W.

(23) Thence S. 64°50' E. approximately 2,387' to the easterly side of Bayou Grand Caillou lat. 29°10'16" N. long. 90°56'14" W.

(24) Thence in a southeast direction along the northeast shore of Caillou Bay to a most westerly point of land on the north side of Grand Pas Des Ilettes, lat. 29°07'02" N. long. 90°52'50" W.

(25) Thence S. 36° E., for approx. 3,000' to the most westerly point of land on the south side of Grand Pas Des Ilettes, lat. 29°06'30" N. long. 90°52'43" W.

(26) Thence in a southeast direction along the northeast shore of Caillou Bay to the most westerly point on the north shore of Pass Wilson, lat. 29°04'60" N. long. 90°51'12" W.

(27) Thence in a southeasterly direction to the most westerly point on the south shore of Pass Wilson lat. 29°04'29" N., long. 90°51'08" W.

(27.1) Thence, along the shore to the most southeasterly point of land on the west side of a pass between Pelican Lake and Bay Round lat. 29°03'57" N. long. 90°50'07" W.

(28) Thence in a southeasterly direction to the U.S. Coast Guard navigational light off the northwest shore of Caillou Boca, lat. 29° 03'10" N., long. 90° 50' 27" W.

(29) Thence south, southeast along the west, southwest coast of the island to 29°02'41" N. long. 90°50'19" W.

(30) Thence along the south shore of the Isles Dernieres to the most easterly point on the west side of Whiskey Pass lat. 29°03'16" N. long. 90°48'03" W.

(31) Thence S. 74° E. approximately 11,258' to the most westerly point of land on the east side of Whiskey Pass, lat. 29°02'44" N. long. 90°46'01" W.

(32) Thence in an easterly direction along the south shore of Isles Dernieres to a tank battery on the east end of the Isles at Wine Island Pass, lat. 29° 04' 19" N., long. 90° 38' 29" W.

(32)(a) Thence in a northeasterly direction to the most easterly point of the Wine Island rock jetties, lat. 29° 05'38" N. long. 90° 36'30" N.

(33) Thence in a southeasterly direction to the tank battery on the west end of Timbalier Island lat. 29° 05' 26" N., long. 90° 32' 16" W.

(34) Thence eastward along the south shore to a point of land on the northeast part of Timbalier Island on the west side of Little Pass Timbalier lat. 29°03'42" N., long. 90°25'48" W.

(35) Thence N. 83°52' E. approximately 4.2 miles to the southwest point of land on East Timbalier Island lat. 29°03'42" N., long. 90°20'24" W.

(36) Thence easterly along the south shoreline to a point of land most southwest at the mouth of Belle Pass, lat. 29°05'10" N. long. 90°13'36" W.

(37) Thence to the east side at a point of land most southerly at the mouth of Belle Pass, lat. 29°05'07" N. long. 90°13'30" W.

(38) Thence easterly along the south shoreline to a point of land on the southwestern side of Caminada Pass, lat. 29 degrees 11 minutes 24.540 seconds N. long. 90 degrees 02 minutes 46.597 seconds W.

(39) Thence northwesterly along the southwestern shoreline of Caminada Pass to a point of land, lat. 29 degrees 12 minutes 03.720 seconds N. long. 90 degrees 03 minutes 20.237 seconds W.

(40) Thence North 11 degrees 01 minutes 28 seconds East a distance of 1174 feet to a point on the northwesterly shoreline of Caminada Pass, lat. 29 degrees 12 minutes 15.123 seconds N. long. 90 degrees 03 minutes 17.705 seconds W.

(41) Thence northeasterly along the northwesterly shoreline of Caminada Pass to the intersection of an underground power line as marked by two platforms in Caminada Pass, lat. 29 degrees 12 minutes 24.916 seconds N. long. 90 degrees 03 minutes 09.891 seconds W.

(42) Thence South 68 degrees 39 minutes 51 seconds East along the underground power line as marked by two platforms in Caminada Pass, a distance of 3701 feet to the northwesterly shoreline of Grand Isle, lat. 29 degrees 12 minutes 11.583 seconds N. 90 degrees 02 minutes 30.991 seconds W.

(43) Thence southwesterly along the northwesterly shoreline of Grand Isle to a point of land, lat. 29 degrees 11 minutes 55.443 seconds N. long. 90 degrees 02 minutes 25.426 seconds W.

(44) Thence along the south shoreline to the most easterly point of Grand Isle at Barataria Pass, lat. 29° 16' N. long. 89° 57' 15" W.

(45) Thence N. 5° 10' E. for 2,135' to the Sea Buoy (green blinking light on turning buoy) at lat. 29° 16' 21" N. long 89° 57' 13" E.

(46) Thence N. 87° 03' 22" E. for 2,570' to Fort Livingston ruins lat. 29° 16' 22" N. long. 89° 56' 44" W.

(46.1) Thence easterly along the south shoreline of Grand Terre Island to a point of land most easterly on the west side of Pass Able at N 29° 17' 49.2" W 89° 54' 28.2".

(46.2) Thence easterly at approximately 60° for 1.29 miles across to the eastern side of the pass to a point at N29° 18' 28.8" W 89° 53' 25.8".

(47) Thence along the shoreline for approximately 1.45 miles to the easterly most point of land on the west side of Quartre Bayou Pass at N 29° 18' 44.6" W 89° 51' 32".

(47.1) Thence northeasterly at 67° for approximately .93 miles across Quartre Bayou Pass to the western point of land on the east side of Quartre Bayou Pass at N 29° 19' 5.2" W 89° 50' 32.5".

(47.2) Thence along the southern shoreline for .33 miles to a point on the western side of a wash out below Bay Long at N 29° 19" 4.8" W 89° 50' 9.9".

(48) Thence easterly at 90° for approximately .79 miles across to the eastern side of the wash out at N 29° 19' 3.3" W 89° 49' 15.8".

(48.1) Thence for 1.90 miles along the southern shoreline to the most easterly point of land on the west side of an opening known as Shell Cut at N 29° 18' 56.8" W 89° 47' 5.6".

(48.2) Thence across to the western most point on the eastern side of Shell Cut at N 29° 18' 56.8" W 89° 47' 5.6".

(49) Thence for approximately 2.54 miles along the southern shoreline to the eastern most point of land on the western side of Chaland Pass at N 29° 18' 29.2" W 89° 44' 8.4".

(50) Thence east to the most westerly point of land on the east side of the mouth of Chaland Pass at N 29° 18' 31" W 89° 44' 6.3".

(51) Thence along the south shore for approximately 2.86 miles to the easterly point of land on the west side of Grand Bayou Pass at N 29° 17' 40.8" W 89° 40' 58.8".

(51.1) Thence across the pass to the westerly most point of land on the east side of Grand Bayou Pass at N 29° 17' 40.3" W 89° 40' 57.4".

(52) Thence along the south shoreline for approximately 1.22 miles to a point of land on the west side of the wash out below Shell Island Bay at N 29° 17' 21.7" W 89° 39' 37.1".

(52.1) Thence easterly at 113° for approximately 1.74 miles across to the east side of the washout below Shell Island Bay at N 29° 16' 39.3" W 89° 37' 47.5".

(52.2) Thence along the shoreline for approximately 1.56 miles to a point of land on the western side of Empire Canal at N 29° 15' 43.5" W 89° 37' 47.5".

(52.3) Thence southeasterly across the Empire Channel at 127° for approximately .21 miles to a point of land on the eastern side of the Empire Canal at N 29° 15' 29.8" W 89° 36' 19.9".

(52.4) Thence south along the eastern side of the Empire Canal for approximately .32 miles to a point of land at N 29° 15' 12.3" W 89° 36' 24.7".

(53) Thence easterly along the south shoreline of Pelican Island for approximately 2.21 miles to the eastern most point of land on the west side of the mouth of Scofield Bayou at N 29° 14' 47.1" W 89° 33' 54.5".

(54) Thence across the mouth of Scofield Bayou for approximately .17 miles to a point on the eastern side at N 29° 14' 55.3" W 89°33'51.3".

(54.1) Thence along the shoreline for 2.46 miles to a point of land on the west side of a washout below Bay Coquette at N 29° 13' 57.9" W 89° 30' 59.0".

(54.2) Thence eastward at 116° for .69 miles across the washout to a point of land below Bay Coquette at N 29° 13' 38.6" W 89° 30' 16.8".

(55) Thence along the south shoreline for .22 miles to the easterly point of land on the west side of the mouth of Sandy Point Bay at N 29° 13' 39.4" W 89° 30' 1.5".

(55.1) Thence at 126° for .86 miles across the mouth of Sandy Point Bay to a point of land on the west side of Sandy Point Island at N 29° 13' 7.9" W 89° 29' 14.6".

(55.2) Thence along the south shoreline for .30 miles to a point on the eastern side of Sandy Point Island at N 29° 13' 1.9" W 89° 28' 55.5".

(56) Thence for .51 miles to a point of land on the east side of Sandy Point Bay at N 29° 12' 52.4" W 89° 28' 22.2".

(56.1) Thence easterly across a canal to a point of land at N 29° 12' 51.2" W 89° 28' 19.6".

(56.2) Thence southerly across the opening of a canal to a point of land at N 29° 12' 46.6" W 89° 28' 11.4".

(56.3) Thence along the shore to a point of land on the north side of Red Pass at N 29° 12' 39.4" W 89° 28' 11.4".

(56.4) Thence across to the south side of Red Pass at N 29° 12' 35.7" W 89° 28' 13.4".

(56.5) Thence southeasterly along the shore for approximately 2.05 miles to the west side of a washout at N 29° 10' 55.2" W 89° 26' 53.5".

(56.6) Thence at 152° for 1.08 miles across to the east side of a washout at a point of land at N 29° 09' 58.1" W 89° 26' 20.4".

(57) Thence approximately 1.69 miles at 152° to the red buoy #10 on the east side of Tiger Pass at N 29° 8' 27" W 89° 25' 28".

(58) Thence southeasterly at 128° for 2.11 miles to a point of land at N 29° 7' 8" W 89° 23' 35".

(59) Thence at 75° for approximately 1.15 miles to the radio tower at N 29° 7' 25" W 89° 23' 19".

(60) Thence 139° for approximately 2.53 miles to a manifold platform on the east side of Grand Pass at N 29° 5' 28" W 89° 20' 26".

(61) Thence S. 74'06" E. approximately 4,170' to a point of land on the east side of the mouth of Grand Pass, lat. 29° 04'30" N. long. 89° 21'09" W.

(62) Thence 183° for 2.02 miles to a point of land west of Double Bayou at N 29° 3' 27" W 89° 20' 38".

(63) Thence along the east shoreline of West Bay to a most southerly point of land on the west side of the mouth of Southwest Pass, lat. 28° 55'50" N., long. 89° 25'00" W.

(64) Thence southeast to the most southerly point of land on the east side of the mouth of Southwest Pass, lat. 28° 55'30" N., long. 89° 24'42" W.

(65) Thence northeast along the west shore of East Bay to the mouth of Joseph Bayou, lat. 29° 03'36" N., long. 89° 15'37" W.

(66) Thence due east for approx. 14,000' to a point of land lat. 29° 03'36" N., long. 89° 12' 51" W.

(67) Thence south along the east shoreline of East Bay to a most southerly point of land on the west side of South Pass, lat. 28° 59' N., long. 89° 08'42" W.

(68) Thence northwest along the west shore of Garden Island Bay to a most southerly point of land on the west side of Cadro Pass, lat. 29° 03'36" N., long. 89° 09'42" W.

(69) Thence N. 78° 59" E. for approximately 3,500' to a point of land on the west side of the mouth of Dennis Pass, lat. 29° 02'42" N. long. 89° 09'03" W.

(70) Thence N. 47° 17' E. for approximately 14,600' to the most easterly point of land on Lookout Island, lat. 29° 04'18" N., long. 89° 07' W.

(71) Thence S. 71° 38' E. approx. 9,000' to the most southerly point of land on the southwest side of Southeast Pass, lat. 29° 04'06" N., long. 89° 03'45" W.

(72) Thence N. 20° 45' E. to the most easterly point on the north side of Northeast Pass, lat. 29° 08'15" N., long. 89° 01'37" W.

(73) Thence north 37° 20' E. for approx. 4,000' to the most easterly point of land on Thomasin Lumps, lat. 29° 10' N., long. 89° 00'20" W.

(74) Thence N. 20° 20' W. for approx. 6,000' to the most easterly point of the north side of the mouth of North Pass, lat. 29° 13' N., long. 89° 01'18" W.

(75) Thence in a southwesterly direction to the most northerly point on the east shore of Thomasin Bayou, lat. 29° 13'05" N., long. 89° 03'11" W.

(76) Thence S. 70° W., for approx. 7,700' to the most northerly point on the E. shore of Meyers Bayou, lat. 29° 12'30" N., long. 89° 04'30" W.

(77) Thence in a southerly direction to a point in the most southeasterly portion of Customhouse Bay, lat. 29° 11'39" N., long. 89° 04' W.

(78) Thence in a southwesterly direction along the south shore of Customhouse Bay to U.S.C. & G.S. Station Lout 1955, lat. 29° 11'19" N., long. 89° 05'19" W.

(79) Thence in a northerly direction along the west shore of Customhouse Bay to the most northerly point on the East shore of Willies Bayou, lat. 29° 12'09" N., long. 89° 05'32" W.

(80) Thence in a northwesterly direction along the shore to the most northerly point on the east shore of Tommy Dantz Bayou, lat. 29° 12'24" N., long. 89° 06'33" W.

(81) Thence N. 50° 30' W. for approx. 2,500' to the most easterly point on the north shore of Hingle Pass, lat. 29° 12'48" N., long. 89° 06'48" W.

(82) Thence in a northerly direction to the most northerly point on the east shore of Raphael Pass, lat. 29° 13'06" N., long. 89° 07' W.

(83) Thence N. 45° W. for approx. 4,800' to the most easterly point on the south shore of Twenty-Seven Pass, lat. 29° 14' N., long. 89° 07'32" W.

(84) Thence in a northerly direction to the most easterly point on the south shore of Dead Women Pass, lat. 29° 15' N., long. 89° 07'21" W.

(85) Thence N. 18° 30' W. for approx. 2,200' to the most northerly point on the north shore of Dead Women Pass, lat. 29° 15'38" N., long. 89° 07'03" W.

(86) Thence N. 59° 30' W. for approx. 7,000' to Harris (BSE) Station, lat. 29° 16'28" N., long. 89° 08'05" W.

(87) Thence in a northerly direction along the shore to the most northerly point on the east shore of Contrariete Pass, lat. 29° 16'45" N., long. 89° 08'06" W.

(88) Thence in a northwesterly direction along the shore to the most northerly point on the east shore of Bienvenue Pass, lat. 29° 17'12" N., long. 89° 08'15" W.

(89) Thence in a westerly direction along shore to Octave (BSE) Station, lat. 29° 17'27" N., long. 89° 09'15" W.

(90) Thence in a northerly direction along shore to the most northerly point of the east shore of the east fork of Gaspar Bayou, lat. 29° 17'45" N., long. 89° 09'18" W.

(91) Thence in a northwesterly direction along the shore to the most northerly point on the east shore of the west fork of Gaspar Bayou, lat. 29° 18'00" N., long. 89° 09'39" W.

(92) Thence N. 46° W., approx. 5,000' to the most easterly point on the north side of Delta Pass, lat. 29° 18'48" N., long. 89° 10'06" W.

(93) Thence N. 36° 30' W., approx. 14,000' to the most northerly point on the east side of Main Pass, lat. 29° 20'48" N., long. 89° 11'21" W.

(94) Thence N. 70° W., approx. 4,000' to the most northerly point on the west shore of Main Pass, lat. 29° 21'09" N., long. 89° 12'06" W.

(95) Thence in a southwesterly direction along the shore to the most northerly point on the east shore of Octave Pass, lat. 29° 19'51" N., long. 89° 12'53" W.

(96) Thence in a southwesterly direction along the shore to the most westerly point of the north shore of Battery Bayou, lat. 29° 18'18" N., long. 89° 13'45" W.

(97) Thence in a west, northwest direction along the shore to the most northerly point on the west shore of Spoonbill Bend which is also the most northerly point on the east shore of East Fork Pass, lat. 29° 18'39" N., long. 89° 14'32" W.

(98) Thence in a northwesterly direction along shore to the most northerly point on the east shore of Emeline Pass, lat. 29° 20'54" N., long. 89° 16'03" W.

(99) Thence N. 81° 33' W. for approximately 3,680' to the most northerly point on the west shore of Kimbel Pass, lat. 29° 21' N. long. 89° 16'44" W.

(99.1) Thence from Kimble Pass for approximately 1.32 miles to a lighted buoy #18 of Baptiste Collete at N 29° 21' 35.6" W 89° 18' 9.0".

(100) Thence from #18 buoy at 305° for 1.91 miles to the south side of Taylor Pass at N 29° 22' 43.3" W 89° 19' 54.7".

(101) Thence N. 47° E., for approx. 47,000' to the most westerly point of land of Breton Island, lat. 29° 27'45" N., long. 89° 12'54" W.

(102) Thence along the southeast shoreline to the most northeasterly point of land, lat. 29° 28'03" N., long. 89° 11'12" W.

(103) Thence N. 58° 05' E. for approx. 9,000' to the most westerly point of land of Gosier Island, lat. 29° 31'12" N., long. 89° 05'45" W.

(104) Thence along the east shore to the most northerly point of land of Gosier Island, lat. 29° 33'42" N., long. 89° 02'45" W.

(105) Thence N. 43° 30' E. for approx. 13,000' to the most easterly point of land of Curlew Islands, lat. 29° 37'54" N., long. 88° 58'48" W.

(106) Thence N. 37° 30' E. for approximately 56,700' to a point of land on the southeast side of Chandeleur Islands lat. 29° 45'12" N., long. 88° 52'06" W.

(107) Thence northerly along the east shoreline of the Chandeleur Islands, going north to the Chandeleur light, lat. 30 degrees 02'52" N., long. 88 degrees 52'18" W., terminating at the Mississippi boundary.

(108) Repealed by Acts 1991, No. 946, §2.

B. All waters of the state shoreward of the line described in Subsection A hereof within which the tide regularly rises and falls or into which salt water shrimp migrate are inside waters. All waters seaward of the line described in Subsection A of this Section are outside waters.

C. For the purpose of determining if a person is shrimping in inside or outside waters, reference shall be made by LORAN C navigational instrument readings or global positioning satellite (GPS) navigational instrument readings for a vessel located on or in proximity to the boundary line between open and closed waters as set forth in Subsection A of this Section.

D. For the purposes of this Section, the department shall utilize LORAN C or GPS navigational instrument readings taken from such equipment located on department vessels or, if the shrimping vessel is equipped with LORAN C or GPS equipment, from the equipment located on the shrimping vessel.

E. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the commission may amend by rule the line of demarcation set by law in Subsection A of this Section in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

Amended by Acts 1956, No. 92, §1; Acts 1958, No. 53, §3; Acts 1962, No. 452, §1; Acts 1971, No. 99, §1; Acts 1972, No. 203, §1; Acts 1977, No. 127, §1; Acts 1986, No. 554, §1; Acts 1987, No. 876, §1, eff. July 20, 1987; Acts 1988, No. 894, §1, eff. July 21, 1988; Acts 1989, No. 607, §1, eff. July 6, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 549, §1, eff. July 19, 1990; Acts 1991, No. 946, §§1 and 2; Acts 1992, No. 568, §1; Acts 1992, No. 641, §1; Acts 1993, No. 241, §1; Acts 1997, No. 446, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 182, §1; Acts 2004, No. 162, §1; Acts 2014, No. 294, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:192 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 192
Purpose
Status: in_force

The purpose of Louisiana Acres for Wildlife is to supplement the commission's efforts of protection, conservation, and fostering of wild birds and game within the state of Louisiana in wildlife management areas, refuges and recreation areas under its jurisdiction by stimulating the application of sound wildlife management practices by providing recommendations to private landowners or lessees producing and maintaining suitable food, water, and cover conditions favorable to the support, replenishment, and propagation of the wildlife of the state.

Added by Acts 1979, No. 481, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:1954 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 1954
Scenic highways; purpose
Status: in_force

The route composing the scenic highways which parallel the Louisiana Colonial Trail and which is to be used as a route for the enjoyment of tourists of the Louisiana Colonial Trails, extending from Mississippi to Texas shall consist of the following:

(1) Enter Louisiana on State Highway 6.

(2) Intersection of State Highway 6 with US 71/84, turn south on US 71.

(3) Intersection of US 71 with local paved road known as the Old Harrisonburg Road. Turn east.

(4) Intersection of Old Harrisonburg Road with State Highway 34. Turn northeast on State Highway 34.

(5) Intersection of State Highway with local, paved road. Turn southeast on paved road.

(6) Intersection with Old Harrisonburg Road a local road paved in parts running east-west. Turn east on Old Harrisonburg Road.

(7) Intersection of Old Harrisonburg Road with paved State Highway 1228, turn north.

(8) Intersection of State Highway 1228 with paved, local road, turn east.

(9) Cross the intersection with US 167 and continue on road which becomes paved State Highway 500 at this intersection. Continue east on State Highway 500.

(10) Intersection of State Highway 500 with State Highway 472, a two lane road extending north to State Highway 1230, turn north.

(11) Intersection of State Highway 472 with State Highway 1230. Turn east on State Highway 1230.

(12) When State Highway 1230 turns sharply to the south, continue east on road which becomes State Highway 3098. Continue east on 3098.

(13) Intersection of State Highway 3098 with State Highway 165. Turn south on State Highway 165.

(14) Intersection of State Highway 165 with State Highway 500. Turn east on State Highway 500.

(15) Merger of State Highway 500 with US 84. Continue east on US 84.

(16) Intersection with State Highway 8. Turn northeast and continue on State Highway 8.

(17) Intersection of State Highway 8 with State Highway 124, turn south.

(18) Intersection of State Highway 124 with US 84, turn east.

(19) Veer south on US 84/65, which becomes a divided, four lane highway between Ferriday and Vidalia.

Added by Acts 1982, No. 57, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:578.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 578.3
Powers, duties, and functions
Status: in_force

The board shall have the following powers, duties, and functions:

(1) To adopt a seal and alter the same at its pleasure.

(2) To sue and be sued in its own name.

(3) To identify marketing problems, obstacles, and significant issues.

(4) To establish a marketing policy and goals and objectives therefor.

(5) To develop markets and marketing strategies for the development of new and expanded markets for Louisiana seafood.

(6) To give special emphasis to market promotion and development for underutilized species of Louisiana seafood.

(7) To educate the Louisiana fishing industry and Louisiana government officials regarding potential markets for Louisiana seafood and regarding investment and tax incentives available to industries under other existing Louisiana law and fisheries development programs available under federal law.

(8) To perform any acts deemed necessary and proper to carry out the duties and responsibilities imposed upon the board by the provisions of this Subpart.

(9) To consider and to recommend to the legislature a mechanism whereby the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board shall be funded, including rules and regulations pertinent thereto.

(10) To adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of the board.

Added by Acts 1981, No. 890, §1; Acts 2013, No. 228, §2, eff. July 1, 2013.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:764 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 764
Penalty for violation of R.S. 56:761, R.S. 56:762 or R.S. 56:763
Status: in_force

Violation of the provisions of R.S. 56:761, R.S. 56:762, or R.S. 56:763 constitutes a class two violation.

Amended by Acts 1970, No. 651, §1; Acts 1981, No. 837, §3.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:303.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 303.2
License possession; menhaden
Status: in_force

A. The person in charge of the operation of each vessel engaged in commercial fishing must have, in his possession and in his name, a valid, original commercial fisherman's license. This person must also have in his possession a gear license indicating that the applicable gear fee has been paid and, if applicable, a vessel license.

B. For the purposes of commercial menhaden fishing, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the commercial gear license and the vessel license may be issued in the name of the person in charge of the operation of the vessel, his employer, or the owner of the vessel, and may be issued to any individual person, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity recognized by law. Each vessel engaged in commercial menhaden fishing shall carry and have aboard a gear license and vessel license. The licenses shall be in the possession of the person in charge of the operation of the vessel.

C. For the purposes of this Subpart, only one commercial fisherman's license is required for each menhaden seine being used to take menhaden or other herring-like fish.

D. Violation of any of the provisions of this Section constitutes a class 2-B violation.

Acts 1986, No. 904, §1; Acts 1997, No. 4, §1, eff. May 7, 1997; Acts 2021, No. 241, §1.

NOTE: SEE ACTS 1986, NO. 904, §5.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:639.8 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 639.8
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; Artificial Reef Development Fund
Status: in_force

A. The secretary is authorized to accept and receive grants, donations of monies or materials, and other forms of assistance from private and public sources which are provided to the state for the purpose of siting, designing, constructing, monitoring, and otherwise managing an artificial reef system.

B. Any funds received by the department pursuant to the provisions and purposes of this Subpart shall be deposited immediately upon receipt into the state treasury.

C. There is hereby established a fund in the state treasury to be known as the Artificial Reef Development Fund, hereinafter referred to as the "Reef Fund" or "fund", into which the state treasurer shall each fiscal year, and beginning with the 1986-1987 Fiscal Year, deposit the funds received as provided in Subsections A and B of this Section, after those revenues have been deposited in the Bond Security and Redemption Fund. Out of the funds remaining in the Bond Security and Redemption Fund after a sufficient amount is allocated from that fund to pay all obligations secured by the full faith and credit of the state that become due and payable within each fiscal year, the treasurer, prior to placing such funds in the state general fund, shall pay into the Reef Fund an amount equal to the funds deposited by the department into the treasury as provided in Subsection B. The monies in the Reef Fund shall be used solely as provided by Subsection E herein and only in the amounts appropriated by the legislature. All unexpended and unencumbered monies in the Reef Fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund. The monies in the fund shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund, and interest earned on the investment of these monies shall be credited to the fund, again, following compliance with the requirement of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund.

D. The council shall review and comment on proposed expenditures from the fund at the time of budget preparation by the department. The department shall maintain records of the sources of money received and the purpose therefor, as well as the person or persons to whom money is paid and the purpose therefor. Vouchers or receipts shall be kept for all money paid out. The department shall employ such personnel as are necessary to meet the department's responsibilities under the program. The department shall allocate from the fund an amount sufficient to pay the salaries of personnel assigned to or responsible for the conduct of the program and shall allocate such amount as necessary for related operating expenses. Money appropriated or otherwise made available to the participants in the program for authorized purposes shall be withdrawn from the treasury on warrant of the secretary or his designee.

E.(1) Monies may be withdrawn directly from the Reef Fund for the operation of the program as described in R.S. 56:639.5, including evaluation of the program and administrative and field support for the permitting, establishing, monitoring, and maintenance of artificial reefs established pursuant to this Subpart until such time that the council determines that the annual interest earnings from the fund are sufficient to run the program.

(2) In addition to the expenditures authorized in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, an amount not to exceed ten percent of the funds deposited to the fund each year and ten percent of the interest income to the fund may be used by the department to provide funding in association with the wild seafood certification program, particularly in support of wild-caught shrimp, established by the department. Such funding may be used for a subsidy granted to seafood harvesters or processors to assist in their efforts to comply with the certification program requirements and may be used for administration of the program.

(3) Repealed by Acts 2024, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 13, §9, eff. Dec. 4. 2024.

(4) In addition to the expenditures authorized in Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Subsection and prior to depositing expenditures authorized in Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Subsection, an amount not to exceed two million dollars of the fund may be used by the department for the administration and conducting of the saltwater fish stock estimate.

F. The secretary shall insure that the Reef Fund contains sufficient reserves to operate the program in a manner consistent with the state plan.

G. In future years, if interest income exceeds operational costs for the artificial reef program, marine fisheries research and habitat enhancement projects may be funded through the department with advice from the council.

Acts 1986, No. 100, §1, eff. June 23, 1986; Acts 1993, No. 271, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1015, §1; Acts 2010, No. 315, §1; Acts 2011, No. 237, §1, eff. June 27, 2011; Acts 2018, No. 41, §1, eff. May 10, 2018; Acts 2021, No. 170, §2, See Act.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:109 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 109
Wildlife management areas; wildlife refuges; public hunting grounds and recreation areas; notice; signs; hunters with disabilities
Status: in_force

A. The commission may establish, maintain, and manage any state wildlife management area, wildlife refuge, public hunting ground, or outdoor recreation area, as it deems proper for wildlife management purposes. With the approval of the governor, it may lease, buy, or accept donation of, and set apart, any other lands suitable and desirable for such purposes and thereon establish, maintain, and operate such areas. The public shall be notified of the fact of the establishment of such areas by publication of a proclamation by the governor, describing the exact location and description of the lands set apart and the objects and purposes of the dedication, for thirty days in the official journal of the state and the official journal of the parish where the lands are located. The commission shall cause suitable signs to be placed at reasonable distances along the boundaries of the lands and at roads and other entrances for the information of the public. No person shall willfully or maliciously remove, destroy, or deface any sign or notice placed or posted. The commission shall authorize persons over the age of sixty to use trails in the wildlife management areas which are set aside for use exclusively by persons with disabilities.

B. The commission shall be the sole authority and shall establish all rules and regulations pertaining to the propagation, protection and harvest of all species of wildlife, including both male and female sexes of wild quadrupeds, wild birds, fish and alligators existing, propagated or released by the commission upon lands so designated as wildlife management areas, wildlife refuges, public hunting grounds or outdoor recreation areas.

C. No person shall knowingly take, attempt to take, disturb, or destroy any wild bird or wild quadruped or the nest, egg, or young thereof on lands set apart as wildlife management areas and wildlife refuges, or have in his possession or keep, while on the lands, any trap, snare, or other device capable of being used in the taking or disturbance of the birds or quadrupeds on such areas, unless the person previously has been expressly authorized by a permit from the department to do so and only for the purpose and under the conditions specified in the permit.

D.(1) A valid WMA access permit shall be required for use of department administered lands including wildlife refuges and wildlife management and habitat conservation areas. Persons under eighteen years of age are exempt from this requirement. Persons attending official functions of private, nonprofit, and charitable organizations recognized as tax exempt under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code shall be exempt from this requirement. In addition, traversing through lands administered by the department shall not require a license or permit.

(2) Persons using department administered lands for commercial purposes for which the department is paid a royalty or special fee, agents of the state on official business, and persons or groups using department administered lands for purposes other than fishing or hunting who receive, for good cause, a letter of permit from the secretary specifically waiving the permit requirement, shall be exempt.

(3) The department shall prominently post and maintain at each entrance to those lands subject to this Subsection a sign stating that all visitors, except those exempt by law, must possess a WMA access permit, a Sportsman's Paradise license, a lifetime hunting or fishing license, or a license that confers equivalent privileges while on those lands.

E. The commission shall establish a state all-terrain vehicle trail at least twelve miles in length in the Boeuf Wildlife Management Area. The trail established shall be the same trail that was previously approved and permitted by the department for use by Wish I Could, Incorporated. The trail shall be used for organized rides by nonprofit organizations for charitable and educational purposes no more than twice per year per organization. No alcohol shall be sold or consumed on the trail during the rides. The secretary may prohibit any organization from using the wildlife management area and the vehicle trail if any person in that organization violates the provisions of this Subsection.

F. Except as provided in Subsection D, a violation of the provisions of this Section, or rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, shall constitute a class two violation.

Amended by Acts 1974, No. 717, §1; Acts 1977, No. 136, §1; Acts 1981, No. 736, §1; Acts 1992, No. 193, §1; Acts 1992, No. 966, §1; Acts 1993, No. 188, §1; Acts 1993, No. 441, §1; Acts 1995, No. 513, §1; Acts 1995, No. 731, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1226, §2, eff. June 29, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 1092, §1, eff. July 14, 1997; Acts 2000, 2d Ex. Sess., No. 1, §3, eff. June 26, 2000; Acts 2004, No. 438, §1; Acts 2007, No. 7, §1; Acts 2010, No. 790, §1; Acts 2014, No. 811, §29, eff. June 23, 2014; Acts 2021, No. 356, §3, eff. June 1, 2022.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:128 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 128
Falconry
Status: in_force

Rules, regulations, and issuance of permits affecting the sport of falconry within the state shall be as designated and administered by the department and shall at least conform to the minimum federal falconry standards as prescribed by the United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. A current basic hunting license or permit shall be required to practice the sport of falconry. No falconry permit shall be issued to any applicant under sixteen years of age.

Acts 1992, No. 966, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:1695 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 1695
Annual day use entrance permits to state parks
Status: in_force

The assistant secretary, office of state parks, may issue upon application, to any citizen at a rate to be fixed by the office of state parks, a vehicle entrance permit to Louisiana state parks. The permit shall be a decal or other identification affixed to a private, non-commercial vehicle, and shall be valid for a period of one year, with the inception and expiration dates to be fixed by the office of state parks. The assistant secretary, office of state parks, may renew such permits annually, upon application therefor and upon payment for each renewal. Any citizen to whom a valid entrance permit has been issued shall, upon presentation of the permit, be exempt from paying the day use entrance fee to any state park in Louisiana. Any person accompanying a citizen having a valid entrance permit in the same single, private, non-commercial vehicle, shall be exempt from paying the general admission charge to any state park in Louisiana.

Acts 1980, No. 827, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:327 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 327
Sale or purchase of freshwater or saltwater game fish prohibited; commercial sales and purchases, commercial license required; commercial fingerlings and certified mariculture and aquaculture fish excepted; penalties
Status: in_force

A.(1) No person shall purchase, sell, exchange, or offer for sale or exchange, or possess or import with intent to sell or exchange any game fish as defined in R.S. 56:8.

(a)-(c) Repealed by Acts 2008, No. 23, §3, eff. July 1, 2008.

(2) The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to regulate the importation, possession, or sale of game fish species. Red drum, hybrid striped bass, or any other game fish species approved by the commission, which are legally taken, possessed, or sold commercially outside of the state, and aquaculturally raised game fish, may be imported, sold, or purchased by properly licensed persons. Except those game fish being imported under a domesticated aquatic organisms license, prior to each shipment into this state of any game fish for consumption, the buyer or handler of such shipment shall notify the secretary or his designated agent of its pending arrival and shall possess a bill of lading. The bill of lading shall state the species of fish contained in each shipment, the number of fish or parts thereof, the origin of the shipment, the destination of the shipment, the consignee and consignor, and where applicable, the grower's name and fish farmer's license number. Wholesalers, their agents, and commercial transporters delivering the shipment or portions thereof to retail dealers shall provide each dealer with a copy of their bill of lading and shall indicate thereon the date of delivery to the retailer, the species of fish delivered, and the number of fish or parts thereof delivered. Both wholesale and retail dealers shall maintain a file of such bills of lading which shall be open to inspection by the secretary, his agents, or any enforcement agents. Regulations adopted by the commission may utilize a confirmation number system in lieu of copies of bills of lading provided by wholesale/retail seafood dealers to retail seafood dealers.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to offer to sell or to sell any shrimp, oyster, fish, or other seafood without having first obtained a valid commercial fishing, retail, or wholesale license as otherwise provided in this Subpart, or without having first obtained certification from the department that such seafood has been raised and taken in accordance with a certified aquaculture program or a valid experimental mariculture permit issued pursuant to R.S. 56:579.1. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation, including any restaurant or retail establishment, to purchase any shrimp, oyster, fish, or other seafood from any person who does not possess a valid commercial fishing, retail, or wholesale license lawfully issued in his name or his employer's name as provided in this Subpart, or possess certification from the department that such seafood has been raised and taken in accordance with a certified aquaculture program or a valid experimental mariculture permit issued pursuant to R.S. 56:579.1. The commercial fishing license required herein shall be one which authorizes the bearer to sell his catch. Such license or certification or a copy thereof shall be in the possession of the seller and conspicuously displayed at all times when transacting any sale.

C.(1) Violation of Subsection A of this Section constitutes a class 5-B violation.

(2) The provisions of Subsection B of this Section shall be enforceable by all law enforcement agencies throughout the state, in addition to agents of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and including but not limited to law enforcement officers of local governmental subdivisions. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of R.S. 56:314 to the contrary, any tackle of any type or description, including without limitation such gear listed in R.S. 56:302, 302.5, or 305, which is used by a fisherman to take shrimp, oysters, fish, or other seafood for sale without possessing a valid commercial fisherman's license, in violation of Subsection B of this Section, shall be seized by the enforcing officer. Notwithstanding Subsection F of this Section to the contrary, violation of Subsection B of this Section constitutes a class 5-B violation (R.S. 56:35(B)).

D.(1) Recognizing that there are ever increasing numbers of both sport and commercial fishermen utilizing the waters of the state for recreational and commercial pursuits resulting in conflicts over limited space and competition for the same saltwater fish, and acknowledging that both the sport and commercial fishing industry are vital to the economy of the coastal region and the entire state, the provisions of this Subsection, being deemed fair and in the best interest of the state, are hereby declared.

(2) The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission shall hold public hearings to determine areas in which the saltwater fish resources of the state must be allocated between the competing sport and commercial interests and shall promulgate rules and regulations defining such areas and the manner in which the saltwater fish resources shall be allocated, provided that the commission shall initially promulgate regulations setting out by clearly identifiable boundaries the waters within the Eleventh Ward, Jefferson Parish, and a procedure for allocation of the saltwater fish resource therein, such procedure to be based on a seasonal, hourly, daily, monthly, or total closure of said area to net fishing, whichever in the determination of the commission shall best accomplish the intent and purpose of this Subsection.

E. The secretary shall have the authority to set seasons, regulate the type of gear used, and set possession limits for speckled trout and other estuarine fish where it is clearly demonstrated that intense fishing competition exists or if pollution levels exceed accepted standards or if biological studies indicate the need.

F. Violation of any provision of this Section for which no penalty has been otherwise specifically provided constitutes a class one violation.

G. With the exception of large mouth bass ( Micropterus Salmoides ), spotted bass ( Micropterous punctulatus ), shadow bass ( Amblophlites ariommus ), black or white crappie ( Pomoxix Nigromaculatus , P, annularis ), white bass ( Morone chrysops ), yellow bass ( Morone mississippiensi ), striped bass ( Morone saxatilis ), and any species of bream ( Lepomis supp. and Centrarchus sp.), the provisions of this Section shall not apply to research or other projects being conducted by the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, or by other schools or programs specifically authorized by the Board of Regents with the concurrence of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, including but not limited to the sale or distribution of the research by-products, such as eggs, fingerlings, and fish, or other products grown under aquacultural conditions.

Acts 1974, No. 223, §1; Amended by Acts 1974, No. 633, §2; Acts 1976, No. 576, §1; Acts 1979, No. 287, §1; Acts 1981, No. 736, §1; Acts 1981, No. 837, §3; Acts 1982, No. 316, §1; Acts 1983, No. 522, §1; Acts 1985, No. 402, §1; Acts 1986, No. 660, §2; Acts 1987, No. 285, §1; Acts 1988, No. 778, §1; Acts 1988, No. 889, §1, eff. July 21, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 889, §4, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1989, No. 469, §1; H.C.R. 181, 1989 R.S.; Acts 1990, No. 78, §§1 and 2; eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, No. 822, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, No. 888, §1, eff. July 23, 1991; Acts 1991, No. 987, §2; Acts 1995, No. 1141, §1; Acts 1997, No. 204, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1022, §1; Acts 2003, No. 268, §1; Acts 2007, No. 316, §§1, 2; Acts 2008, No. 23, §§1, 3, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2008, No. 220, §12, eff. June 14, 2008; Acts 2014, No. 286, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:639.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 639.2
Purposes
Status: in_force

The purpose of this Subpart is to promote and facilitate effective establishment and maintenance of artificial reefs in the offshore waters of Louisiana, as provided in this Subpart and in compliance with the National Fishing Enhancement Act. It is the further purpose of this Subpart to provide for the jurisdiction and cooperation of various state agencies in the implementation of any plan or program developed pursuant to this Subpart.

Acts 1986, No. 100, §1, eff. June 23, 1986.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:120 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 120
Storage of game birds or quadrupeds; tags
Status: in_force

A. No person operating a warehouse or cold storage plant shall receive or keep in storage, with or without compensation, for any person other than a licensee, any migratory or resident game bird or game quadruped, except as permitted by R.S. 56:171 through 56:181 and then only if tagged as provided in R.S. 56:117 and only if also there is written or stamped on such tag the true date the item was received in storage.

B. A report, upon forms furnished by the department, shall be made ten days after the close of each season of wild game birds and wild game quadrupeds in storage, giving the name and address of persons storing same, the quantity stored, and date of storage. These records shall be open at all times for inspection by representatives of the department.

Amended by Acts 1974, No. 717, §1; Acts 1981, No. 736, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:410 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 410
Trawling at night prohibited on White Lake and Grand Lake
Status: in_force

A. Trawling, skimming, or butterflying on White Lake in Cameron and Vermilion parishes and Grand Lake in Cameron Parish from official sunset to official sunrise is hereby prohibited.

B. Violation of this Section constitutes a class two violation.

Acts 1986, No. 748, §1; Acts 1992, No. 528, §1, eff. June 29, 1992; Acts 2007, No. 296, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:644 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 644
Fishing and hunting license checkoff; donation for Hunters for the Hungry
Status: in_force

A. Each individual who purchases a fishing or hunting license may donate to Hunters for the Hungry. The donation shall be made at the time of the purchase of the license and shall be made upon the license form as prescribed by the secretary.

B. There is hereby created within the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries a special escrow account known as the "Hunters for the Hungry Escrow Account". The escrow account is created to receive deposits of donations for the benefit of Hunters for the Hungry made when an individual purchases a fishing and hunting license, and no public funds shall be deposited into the escrow account. The monies in the escrow account shall be used solely as provided by Subsection C of this Section. All unexpended and unencumbered monies in this escrow account at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the escrow account. The monies in the escrow account shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund.

C. No more than twenty-five percent of the monies in the escrow account shall be used for administrative costs. The balance shall be used solely by Hunters for the Hungry to pay for the following:

(1) Processing and distribution of commercial or game fish, migratory or resident game bird, game quadruped, alligator, or feral hog when any of these shall be used by a not-for-profit entity or a charitable organization in food or meal distribution at no cost to an individual.

(2) Advertising, promotion, or marketing costs incurred to make the general public aware of the mission of Hunters for the Hungry, including the option to donate money when purchasing a fishing or hunting license.

D. All monies used pursuant to the Hunters for the Hungry Escrow Account shall be subject to audit by the legislative auditor.

E. At the end of each calendar year, Hunters for the Hungry shall submit to the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources a report that at a minimum contains a detailed explanation of the revenues and expenditures of the escrow account, as well as a description of the organization's activities related to the account. The committee may summon any person employed by or associated with Hunters for the Hungry to provide testimony with respect to the report.

F. The state treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to immediately upon creation of the Hunters for the Hungry Escrow Account, transfer the balance in the Hunters for the Hungry Account in the Conservation Fund to the department to be deposited into the Hunters for the Hungry Escrow Account created in this Section.

Acts 2013, No. 366, §1, eff. June 1, 2014; Acts 2015, No. 271, §1; Acts 2018, No. 612, §18, eff. July 1, 2020; Acts 2019, No. 362, §§9, 10, eff. June 11, 2019; Acts 2019, No. 404, §1, eff. July 1, 2020; Acts 2020, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 10, §10, eff. July 9, 2020.

NOTE: See Acts 2018, No. 612 and Acts 2019, No. 404 providing for the effects of the conversion of certain dedicated funds to special statutorily dedicated fund accounts.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:766 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 766
Taking of mayhaw berries; rules and regulations
Status: in_force

Any rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the department applicable to the taking or collection of mayhaw (Crataegus aestivalis) berries in wildlife management areas and wildlife refuges shall be subject to legislative oversight in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. The taking of mayhaw berries as provided herein, shall not be subject to the Public Bid Law. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, no person shall be charged a fee for collecting mayhaw berries in wildlife management areas and wildlife refuges, nor shall any person be limited as to the quantity of mayhaw berries that can be collected.

Acts 1991, No. 1028, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:69.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 69.4
Requirements for commissioning
Status: in_force

No commission shall be issued to an individual who has not made written application to the secretary, on forms developed by the secretary. No person under the age of twenty-one shall be commissioned as an auxiliary agent. Each applicant shall be required to complete the following:

(1) An extensive background investigation performed by the department which, at the very least, shall assure that no commission is issued to an individual who was ever convicted of a felony, a misdemeanor, or any wildlife or fishery violation.

(2) A written examination designed to show competency in general knowledge matters and a basic understanding of wildlife and fisheries.

(3) Any other requirements the secretary may adopt by rule and regulation.

Acts 1990, No. 498, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:339 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 339
Transportation of fish to other states; reciprocity
Status: in_force

On and after March 1, 1951, resident and nonresident persons of Louisiana and foreign corporations are prohibited from seining for and catching menhaden or other species of fish not ordinarily used for human consumption in the inside and outside waters over which Louisiana has jurisdiction, to be transported to another state for the purpose of rendering and processing same, unless the state, to which the menhaden or other such species of fish are transported for the purpose of rendering and processing, permits citizens of Louisiana and Louisiana corporations the like privilege to seine for and catch and transport into Louisiana for the purpose of rendering and processing same, under the same conditions as provided by Louisiana law, menhaden and other like species of fish in the waters over which that state has jurisdiction.

Acts 1974, No. 223, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:401 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 401
Commercial seining prohibited in Lake Bruin and other lakes: penalty
Status: in_force

No person shall seine fish for commercial purposes in Lake Bruin in the parish of Tensas and in the Fool River in the parish of Franklin. The department shall take such steps as necessary to prevent the seining of fish for commercial purposes at any time in those two areas. Violation of this Section constitutes a class two violation.

Acts 1974, No. 223, §2. Amended by Acts 1981, No. 837, §3; Acts 1982, No. 746, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:8 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 8
Definitions
Status: in_force

For purposes of this Chapter, the following words and phrases have the meaning ascribed to them in this Section, unless the context clearly shows a different meaning:

(1) "Administrator" means the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

(2) "Agriculture or agricultural pursuit" means the cultivation, growing, harvesting, or marketing of domesticated fish.

(3) "Alien individual" means any person who is neither a United States citizen nor a resident alien, or any corporation or other legal entity which is organized and domiciled in any country other than the United States.

(4) "Alligator farm" means an enclosed area, constructed so as to prevent the ingress and egress of alligators from surrounding public or private lands or waters and meeting other specifications prescribed by the department, where alligators are bred and raised under controlled conditions. Alligator farm also includes an alligator ranch wherein eggs are collected from the wild, artificially incubated and raised, pursuant to department license or permit.

(5) "Alligator farmer" means a person who raises alligators under controlled conditions which prohibit free movement of the animals onto and off of the farm or controlled area, and who may harvest alligators under the supervision of the department.

(6) "Alligator hunter" means a resident or nonresident person who takes wild alligators.

(7) "Alligator part" means any part of the carcass of an alligator, except the hide and includes the bony dorsum plates, if detached from the tagged alligator hide.

(8) "Alligator parts dealer" means any person who deals in alligator parts other than hides and who either:

(a) Buys unprocessed alligator parts from an alligator hunter, another alligator parts dealer, or an alligator farmer for the purpose of resale.

(b) Manufactures within the state nonedible alligator parts into a finished product.

(c) Purchases, cans, unprocessed alligator meat or processes alligator meat for wholesale or retail sale.

(9) "Alligator parts retailer" means a properly licensed person who purchases for retail sale finished alligator parts made from parts other than hides.

(10) "Angle" means to fish with rod, fishing pole, or hook and line, with or without a reel.

(11) "Antlers" means hardened boney material having no velvet, broken naturally through skin.

(12) "Bait species" means all species of fish and other aquatic life utilized for bait.

(13) "Bandit gear" means vertical hook-and-line gear with rods attached to a vessel and with line retrieved by manual, electric, or hydraulic reels.

(14) "Beam Trawl" means a funnel shaped net the mouth of which is held open by a beam, or by some stationary fixture, while it is being fished.

(15) "Blaze pink" means a daylight fluorescent pink color.

(16) "Board of Trustees" as applies to Part XI only, means the board of trustees of the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System created and provided for by Chapter 10 of Title 42 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

(17)(a) "Bona fide resident", except as specified in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, means any person who is a United States citizen or resident alien and has resided in this state continuously during the twelve months immediately prior to the date on which he applies for any license and who has manifested his intent to remain in this state by establishing Louisiana as his legal domicile, as demonstrated by compliance with all of the following, as applicable:

(i) If registered to vote, he is registered to vote in Louisiana.

(ii) If licensed to drive a motor vehicle, he is in possession of a Louisiana driver's license, or, if not licensed to drive, he is in possession of a special identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections under the provisions of R.S. 40:1321, or an alternative form of proof of residency that the department deems acceptable.

(iii) If owning a motor vehicle located within Louisiana, he is in possession of a Louisiana registration for that vehicle.

(iv) If earning an income, he has filed a Louisiana state income tax return and has complied with state income tax laws and regulations.

(v) If a minor who cannot otherwise demonstrate legal domicile by other methods established in this Paragraph, he is in possession of an alternative form of proof of residency that the department deems acceptable.

(b) "Bona fide resident", for purchase of a license for hunting or recreational fishing activities where such license does not authorize any commercial activity, means the following:

(i) Any person who is a United States citizen or resident alien and has resided in this state continuously during the six months immediately prior to the date on which he applies for any such license and who has manifested his intent to remain in this state by establishing Louisiana as his legal domicile, as demonstrated by compliance with Items (a)(i) through (v) of this Paragraph.

(ii) Any person who served in and was honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the National Guard, and who, if licensed to drive a motor vehicle, is in possession of a Louisiana driver's license, or, if not licensed to drive, is in possession of a special identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections under the provisions of R.S. 40:1321.

(c) As to a corporation or other legal entity, a resident shall be any which is incorporated or otherwise organized under and subject to the laws of Louisiana, and which is domiciled in Louisiana and has a permanent physical location of business in Louisiana where records are held in compliance with R.S. 56:306.5.

(d) Any person, corporation, or other legal entity which possesses a resident license from any other state or country shall not qualify for a resident license in Louisiana.

(18) "Butterfly net" means a fixed, frame-mounted net, used to fish the near-surface waters, which is suspended from the side or sides of a boat, pilings, floats, rafts, or shore installation.

(19) "Can" means a metal container of not more than fifty-five-gallon capacity which is set for the purpose of taking fish.

(20) "Cast net" means a light circular net of vegetable or synthetic materials and weighted around its perimeter that is thrown by hand over the water.

(21) "Channelization" means the practice of changing a natural stream or segment thereof, into a man-made ditch or canal with channels of a relatively uniform width and depth usually necessitating the removal of trees and other woody vegetation adjacent to the stream and constructed for the purpose of accelerating runoff.

(22) "Channel realignment" means the practice by which dredging, ditching, or other means are used to shorten or reroute the natural stream course.

(23) "Charter boat fishing guide" means any person who operates a vessel for hire and derives income from the bringing of recreational fishermen upon waters within the state for the purpose of taking fish.

(24) "Clearing and snagging" means the practice of removing most obstructions, trees, snags, and other impediments that retard the natural stream flow.

(25) "Closed season" means that period of time of a calendar year not specifically included in the open season.

(26) "Cold storage plant" means and includes all ice houses, ice storage houses, quick freeze plants, or similar establishments, or any place where payment is accepted for storage of wild birds and wild quadrupeds.

(27) "Commercial fish" means all freshwater commercial fish and saltwater commercial fish found in the waters of the state.

(28) "Commercial fisherman" means any person who derives income from the harvesting of fish. "Income" as used in this Paragraph shall not include a prize or award offered as a prize in a fishing tournament. (See also nonresident commercial fisherman.)

(29) "Commission" means the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.

(30) "Common carrier" means any agency or person transporting passengers or property of any description for hire.

(31) "Confiscation" means the exercise of a right under the police power wherein property is seized and held pending court order if the seized material is nonperishable, or disposed of without judicial intervention if perishable.

(32) "Consumer" means patrons of restaurants and other places where alligator, fish, shrimp, or other aquatic life is prepared for human consumption; or any person using alligator, fish, shrimp, or other aquatic life for bait or personal consumption.

(33) "Consumer-menhaden and other herring-like fishes" means manufacturing plants, warehouses, and other places where menhaden or other herring-like fishes including meal, oil, solubles, or scrap derived, are conveyed after sale.

(34) "Crab" means a blue crab ( Callinecies sapidus ).

(35) "Crab dropnet" means any device constructed with vegetable, synthetic, or metal fibers and without flues or throat, attached to a wire frame that forms a net basket and is used for the purpose of taking crabs. This device shall be operated solely by hand and fished in a stationary, passive manner.

(36) "Crab trap" means a cube-shaped device which is constructed of wire and is no larger than thirty inches on any side with entrance funnels extending no further than seven inches into the inside of the trap and either a bait box or materials providing cover or shelter for peeler crabs, which is used for the sole purpose of taking crabs or stone crabs. This device shall be fished in a stationary, passive manner with the openings to the entrance funnels such that the horizontal diameter of each opening on the vertical wall of the trap is at least one and one-half times the vertical diameter of the opening.

(37) "Crawfish farmer" means a person who farms or cultivates crawfish commercially in private ponds.

(38) "Crawfish harvester" means a person who harvests wild crawfish commercially without participating in the growing of the crawfish.

(39) "Crawfish net" means any device constructed with vegetable or synthetic material without flues or throats attached to a wire frame that forms a net basket and is used for the purpose of taking crawfish.

(40) "Crawfish trap" means any device constructed of coated wire with the opening of the throats or flues not exceeding two inches and which is used for the sole purpose of taking crawfish. The minimum mesh size for crawfish traps shall be in accordance with R.S. 56:322(I).

(41) "Cultivated crop" means domesticated fish which are grown, managed, or harvested on an annual, semiannual, biennial, or short-interval basis.

(42) "Department" means the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

(43) "Dip net" means a net, usually a deep mesh bag of vegetable or synthetic materials, on a fixed frame attached to a handle and held and worked exclusively by hand and by no more than one individual.

(44) "Domesticated fish" means any fish approved by the department through promulgation under the Administrative Procedure Act of a list of approved aquatic organisms that are spawned and grown, managed, harvested, and marketed on an annual, semiannual, biennial, or short-term basis, in privately owned waters.

(45) "Dressing, dressed skins, or dressed furs" - (See "Tanning").

(46) "Edible fish" includes all commercial fish found in the waters of the state which are eaten as table food in the United States or abroad, including but not limited to sea bass, buffalo fish, catfish, crab, mullet, oyster, paddlefish, pompano, red drum, sheepshead, shrimp, spotted sea trout, white trout, gray trout, croaker, black drum, mackerel, shark, eel, and tuna.

(47) "Eel pot" means any device not to exceed forty-eight inches in length and with an outside mesh size not smaller than one-half inch, constructed with throats or flues not larger than three inches in diameter at their narrowest point and not larger than five inches in diameter at their widest point, and which is used solely for the purpose of taking eel. No lead or wing shall be connected to or used in conjunction with any eel pot. Any fish other than eel taken in this gear must be immediately returned unharmed to the water.

(48) "Effective license number" means the unique alphanumeric number issued by the department in connection with the electronic purchase of a license or permit which, together with a form of picture identification specified by department rule, will entitle the holder to engage in the activity for which the license or permit was issued during the time period specified by department rule.

(49) "Employee" as applies only to Part XI, means those wildlife agents of the enforcement division of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries who are members of the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System and shall not include any other members of said retirement system or members of any other retirement system to which the state makes contribution or otherwise. (See "Member".)

(50) "Falconry" means the sport of training raptors or taking of wild birds or wild quadrupeds by means of a trained raptor, except eagles, Falconidae, or great horned owl.

(51) "Federal Fishery Conservation Zone", "federal exclusive economic zone", or "EEZ" means that area which falls within a line conterminous with the seaward boundary of each of the coastal states and a line drawn in such a manner that each point on it is two hundred nautical miles from the baseline from which the territorial sea is measured.

(52) "Finfish" (noun) means any of numerous cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates that characteristically swim with fins, breathe with gills, and are covered with skin or scales.

(53) "Finished alligator part" means any nonedible alligator part that has been completely processed from parts other than hides for retail sale.

(54) "Fish" (noun) means all finfish, shellfish, and crustaceans, and all other species of aquatic life.

(55) "Fish" (verb) means to take or attempt to take fish by any method approved by the commission for recreational purposes or for commercial purposes.

(56) "Fish dealer--retail" means persons excluding restaurants, purchasing fish or seafood whether whole, dressed, or fresh frozen for sale within the state to the consumer only.

(57) "Fish dealer--wholesale" means persons purchasing fresh or frozen fish for resale to dealers or to ship out of state.

(58) "Fisherman" means any person who fishes or attempts to fish within or under the jurisdiction of the laws or regulations of the state of Louisiana.

(59) "Fishing gear" means any vessel and any equipment, whether or not attached to a vessel, which is used in the commercial handling or harvesting of living marine resources.

(60) "Freshwater commercial fish" means any species of freshwater fish taken by a commercial fisherman. Freshwater commercial fish does not include any species of game fish.

(61) "Freshwater recreational fish" means any species of freshwater fish taken for recreational purposes.

(62) "Freshwater shrimp" means the common river shrimp ( Macrobrachium ohione ) and the delta river shrimp ( Macrobrachium acanthurus ).

(63) "Fur animal (nongame quadruped) farm" means any operation involved with the breeding, propagation, or exhibition of fur animals and meeting with commission specifications.

(64) "Fur animal (nongame quadruped) farmer" means a resident who breeds and raises fur animals for exhibition and/or commercial purposes.

(65) "Fur buyer" means anyone who buys whole nongame quadrupeds for the purpose of pelting, carcasses of furbearing animals, raw furs or skins from fur trappers, alligator hunters, alligator farmers, fur buyers, or fur dealers and who sells to another fur buyer or fur dealer within the confines of the state or to a nonresident fur dealer in interstate commerce, or who acts as an agent of another fur buyer or fur dealer in this state in such purchase or sale. Fur buyers are divided into two classes, resident and nonresident. Resident buyers are those who are bona fide residents of this state. All others are nonresident buyers.

(66) "Fur dealer" means anyone who deals in whole nongame quadrupeds for the purpose of pelting, carcasses of furbearing animals, raw furs, and skins and who either:

(a) Buys from a fur trapper, alligator farmer, or alligator hunter, either directly or indirectly, and ships or exports from this state, either directly or indirectly, the raw furs and skins so bought.

(b) Buys from a fur buyer or other fur dealer and exports from this state the raw furs and skins so bought.

(c) Buys from a fur trapper, alligator hunter, alligator farmer, fur buyer, or other dealer and sells such raw furs and skins for manufacturing into a finished product in this state.

(d) Manufactures such furs and skins into a finished product in this state, buying directly from a fur trapper, alligator hunter, alligator farmer, fur buyer, or fur dealer.

(e) Transports raw furs or skins into this state for the purpose of sale within the state. Fur dealers are divided into two classes, resident and nonresident. Resident dealers are those who are bona fide residents of this state. All others are nonresident dealers.

(f) Converts raw alligator skins through the tanning process into finished or partially finished leather and/or converts raw (green or dried) fur pelts into dressed furs ready for manufacturing.

(67) "Fur trapper" means any person who takes or attempts to take any nongame quadruped, except alligators, or a person who sets or runs traps of any type to catch such nongame quadrupeds during the open trapping season. Fur trappers are divided into two classes, resident and nonresident. Resident trappers are those who are bona fide residents of this state. All others are nonresident trappers.

(68) "Furbearing animal" means any of the following nongame quadrupeds: beaver, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, red fox, mink, muskrat, nutria, opossum, otter, raccoon, and skunk.

(69) "Fyke net" means any cone-shaped net of vegetable or synthetic fibers having throats or flues which is stretched over a series of rings or hoops to support the webbing, with vertical panels of net wings set obliquely on one or both sides of the mouth of the cone-shaped net.

(70) "Game fish" means all of the following species of freshwater and saltwater fish:

(a) Freshwater game fish means largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoides ), spotted bass ( Micropterus punctulatus ), shadow bass ( Ambloplites ariommus ), black or white crappie ( Pomoxis nigromaculatus, P. annularis ), white bass ( Morone chrysops ), yellow bass ( Morone mississippiensi ), striped bass ( Morone saxatillis ), hybrid striped bass (striped bass-white bass cross or striped bass-yellow bass cross), and any species of bream ( Lepomis sp. ).

(b) Saltwater game fish means any sailfish ( Istiopharus platypterus ), blue marlin ( Makaira indica ), black marlin ( Makaira nigricans ), striped marlin ( Tetrapturus audax ), hatchet marlin ( Tetrapturus spp. ), white marlin ( Tetrapturus albidus ), and red drum ( Sciaenops ocellatus ).

(71) "Gill net" means any net, of one or more layers, not customarily used for shrimp or menhaden fishing, with a mesh of such size and design as to be used primarily to catch or entangle fish by the gills or other boney projections.

(72) "Hook" means any curved or bent device attached to a line for the purpose of taking fish or alligator and consisting of not more than one eye and one shank with no more than three barbs.

(73) "Hoop net" means a cone-shaped net of vegetable or synthetic materials having throats or flues and which is stretched over a series of rings or hoops to support the webbing.

(74) "Hunt" means, in different tenses, attempting to take.

(75) "Hunter orange" means a daylight fluorescent orange color.

(76) "Instantaneous natural and scenic rivers" means those rivers, streams, or bayous, or segments thereof, included in the Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers System at its inception.

(77) "Landing net" means a net, usually a mesh bag of vegetable or synthetic material on a fixed frame attached to a handle, held and operated by hand for the sole purpose of assisting in the landing of a fish legally caught by other legal gear.

(78) "Lead or wing net" means a panel of netting of any mesh size or length, with or without weights and floats attached to one or both sides of the mouth of a cone-shaped net having flues or throats, and set so as to deflect or guide fish toward the mouth of the net.

(79) "Length of net (seines, trammel nets, gill nets, trawls, or other netting)" means the full measure of the extended net as in use or in possession on the fishing grounds, when measured along the cork line between the points where the webbing is attached to the rope at either end and does not include the additional rope used for pulling the net or attaching it to the arm-poles or trawl boards.

(80) "License number" means the unique alphanumeric number which appears on and identifies a particular license or permit.

(81) "Licensee" means any resident or nonresident lawful holder of an effective license duly issued under the authority of the department.

(82) "Livestock" includes domesticated fish which are grown, managed, harvested, or marketed as a cultivated crop.

(83) "Longline gear" means a line which is over four hundred forty yards long to which gangions and hooks are attached that is deployed horizontally and which may be retrieved by an electric or hydraulic hauler. Longline gear shall not mean a trotline as defined in this Section.

(84) "Member" (See "Employee".).

(85) "Menhaden seine" means a purse seine used to take menhaden and herring-like species.

(86) "Mesh size" means the full measure of the mesh as found in use when measured as follows: Bar measure is the length of the full bar stretched from the near side of one knot to the far side of the other after being tarred, treated, or otherwise processed. Stretched measure is the full stretched distance from the near side of one knot to the far side of the opposite knot diagonally across the mesh. This measurement shall not be applicable to weaved or woven nets commonly used for menhaden fishing. In woven nets, stretched measure is the full stretched distance of the opening of the mesh; bar measure is one-half of stretched measure.

(87) "Migratory waterfowl" means all species of wild ducks, geese, and coots.

(88) "Minnow trap" means any device with throats or flues not to exceed one inch in width which is used for the sole purpose of taking minnows for bait.

(89) "Monofilament" means a single untwisted synthetic filament.

(90) "Mullet strike net" means a gill net that is not more than one thousand two hundred feet in length nor has a mesh size of not less than three and one-half inches stretched and is not anchored or secured to the water bottom or shore and which is actively worked while being used. A mullet strike net shall not be an unattended net as defined in this Section.

(91) "Natural and scenic river" means a river, stream, or bayou, or segment thereof, that is in a free-flowing condition, that has not been channelized, cleared, and snagged within the past twenty-five years, realigned, inundated, or otherwise altered and has a shoreline covered by native vegetation and has no or few man-made structures along its banks. (See "instantaneous natural and scenic rivers".)

(92) "Nongame quadruped" means alligators, beavers, bobcats, coyotes, gray foxes, minks, muskrats, nutrias, opossums, otters, raccoons, red foxes, skunks, and other wild quadrupeds valuable for their skins or furs.

(93) "Nonresident" means any person who is not a bona fide resident as that term is defined in this Section. For the purpose of obtaining any type of commercial license within Part VI of this Chapter, a nonresident shall be a United States citizen or resident alien residing in another state or territory of the United States.

(94) "Nonresident commercial fishing boat" means any boat or vessel registered in any state, or which has not continually been registered in this state for a period of more than twelve months, or which is not owned by any person who is a bona fide resident, and which is used for the purpose of taking or assisting in taking or catching fish from the waters of this state for pay or for the purpose of sale, barter, or exchange.

(95) "Open season" means that period of time between two specific dates, the first and last days inclusive, during which wild birds, wild quadrupeds, and fish may be lawfully taken for either recreational or commercial purposes.

(96) "Optimum" with respect to the yield from a fishery, means the amount of fish:

(a) Which will provide the greatest overall benefit to the state, on a continuing basis, with particular reference to food production and recreational opportunities.

(b) Which is prescribed as such on the basis of the maximum sustainable yield from such fishery, as modified by any relevant economic, social, or ecological factor.

(97) "Overfished" means a stock of insufficient size or characteristics that prevents fishing at optimum yield on a continuing basis.

(98) "Overfishing" means fishing at a rate that will lead to an overfished stock, or fishing an overfished stock at a rate that is in excess of a plan to rebuild the stock, or in the absence of a plan, fishing an overfished stock at a rate that prevents rebuilding the stock at a rate that is both biologically and economically sound.

(99) "Paratrawling" is the fishing with a net by affixing a net to or holding a net from two or more vessels so as to pull the net between or behind the vessels.

(100) "Pelt" means the skin or hide of a quadruped.

(101) "Pelting" means removing the skin and fur of a quadruped in such manner as to render it marketable.

(102) "Person" includes any individual person, association, corporation, partnership, or other legal entity recognized by law.

(103) "Pompano strike net" means a gill net that is not more than one thousand two hundred feet in length nor has a mesh size of not less than five inches stretched and is not anchored or secured to the water bottom or shore and which is actively worked while being used. A mullet strike net shall not be an unattended net as defined in this Section.

(104) "Possess" means, in its different tenses, the act of having in possession or control, keeping, detaining, restraining, or holding as owner, or as agent, bailee, or custodian for another. When possession of fish or other wildlife is prohibited, reference is made equally to such fish or other wildlife coming from without the state as to those taken within the state.

(105) "Practicable" means capable of being done or executed in a sensible, worthwhile, and economically feasible manner.

(106) "Pre-charged pneumatic device" means any air gun that fires projectiles, including arrows or bolts, pneumatically with unignited compressed air or other gases that are mechanically pressurized without involving any chemical reactions.

(107) "Private pond" for the purposes of the production and harvesting of aquatic livestock as defined in R.S. 56:411(B)(2) means a body of water which is: privately owned; and in which aquatic livestock as defined in R.S. 56:411(B)(2) are bred and raised under controlled conditions, or for which persons other than the owner may be required to pay a fee to the owner to fish in such body of water. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not be deemed to authorize or require the charging of a fee to fish by an owner of a private pond.

(108) "Privately owned waters" means artificial reservoirs or enclosures located on privately owned property which are constructed so as to prevent at all times the ingress and egress of fish life from public waters; such reservoirs or enclosures located on privately owned property shall not include lands of natural streams or natural lake beds.

(109) "Processing" means any method of preparing fish or fish products, or wild quadrupeds for market as described in this Paragraph: drying to a point of dehydration, canning, salting, packing or packaging of alligators or parts, breading, and cooking for immediate consumption, but not simple packing of fresh fish in a sack, bag, package, crate, box, lug, or vat.

(110) "Propodus", or claw, means the forearm of the first leg of the stone crab and is measured from the immovable anterior-most tip of the claw to the base of the joint.

(111) "Purse seine" means any net or device commonly known as a purse seine and/or ring net that can be pursed or closed by means of a drawstring or other device that can be drawn to close the bottom of the net, or the top of the net, or both. Such nets are constructed of mesh of such size and design as not to be used primarily to entangle commercial-size fish by the gills or other bony projection.

(112) "Raptor" means a live migratory bird which is a member of the Accipitridae, except the bald eagle; or Falconidae; or a great horned owl.

(113) "Recreational purpose" means a purpose other than deriving or attempting to derive an income of any kind from the harvest of fish. "Income" as used in this Paragraph shall not include a prize or award offered as a prize in a fishing tournament.

(114) "Resident" (See "Bona fide resident".).

(115) "Saltwater commercial fish" means any species of saltwater fish taken for commercial purposes. Saltwater commercial fish does not include any species of game fish.

(116) "Saltwater fish" means all species of finfishes which normally inhabit the saline waters of the marine and estuarine environment for most of their life cycle.

(117) "Saltwater recreational fish" means any species of saltwater fish taken for recreational purposes.

(118) "Saltwater shrimp" means all species of shrimp of commercial or economic value found in the coastal waters of the state and in the Gulf of Mexico contiguous to the Louisiana coast, including the white shrimp or "common saltwater shrimp" ( Litopenaeus setiferus ), also called the "lake shrimp"; the brown shrimp ( Farfantepenaeus aztecus ); the pink shrimp ( Farfantepenaeus duorarum ); the "sea bob" ( Xiphopeneus kroyeri ), also called "six barbes"; and any other shrimp or like species which may be taken from coastal waters or sold through commercial channels.

(119) "Scenic easement" means a contract between the adjacent riparian landowner and the system administrator which shall be in the nature of a development agreement for the purpose of preserving the natural state of the landscape through mutual agreement on the activities which might affect the natural landscape.

(120) "Seaward" means in the direction of the nearest sea.

(121) "Secretary" means the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

(122) "Seine" means any net used to enclose or entrap fish either in a bag or where its ends are pulled together on a vessel or a shore and constructed with a mesh of such size and design as not to be used primarily to ensnare or entangle commercial size fish by the gill or other boney projections. (See "Purse seine".).

(123) "Seizure" means the temporary taking of a thing. (See "Confiscation".).

(124) "Serviceable crab trap" means any crab trap of legal construction and condition maintained in such a manner with the potential to harvest crabs. Except as provided in R.S. 56:320(B)(3), maintained condition shall include being legally tagged, legally marked with float and float line attached and two escapement rings affixed whether obstructed or not.

(125) "Shellfish" means an aquatic, invertebrate species having a shell. These species include but are not limited to oysters, clams, crayfish, shrimp, crabs, and other mollusks and crustaceans.

(126) "Shoreline" means the shoreline in coastal waters which shall be the same line as described in R.S. 56:495.

(127) "Skimmer nets" means a net attached on two sides to a triangular frame and suspended from or attached to the sides of a boat, with one corner attached to the side of the boat and one corner resting on the waterbottom. A ski and one end of the lead line are attached to the corner of the frame that rests on the waterbottom and the other end of the lead line attached to a weight which is suspended from the bow of the boat.

(128) "Slat trap" means any device, used solely for the capture of catfish, which is cylindrical, rectangular, or square in cross section configuration, constructed of slats forming the length of the trap, with at least one pair of slats spaced at least one inch apart from each other on at least three sides of the trap; and which is no more than six feet in length, two feet in diameter or width; and which has one or more cone-shaped throats, flues, or entrances.

(129) "Standard .22 caliber rimfire" means any rimfire .22 caliber, including short or long, long rifle, or .22 magnum. Standard .22 caliber rimfire does not include any .22 centerfire.

(130) "Stock" and "unit of fish" mean an individual species of fish and "interrelated stocks" means a group of species that for whatever reason tend to be harvested simultaneously by a single type of fishing gear.

(131) "Stone crab" means the western gulf stone crab ( Menippe adina ).

(132) "Strike fishing" means that the school of fish is visible from the surface and the strike net is placed around the school.

(133) "Strike net" means any gill net, trammel net, or seine net not anchored or secured to the water bottom or shore and which is actively worked while being used.

(134) "Surface easement" means a contract between the stream owner and the system administrator which shall relieve the landowner of liabilities and assure the public of access and use of the stream surface.

(135) "System" means the Louisiana Natural and Scenic River System.

(136) "Tackle" means any device or equipment used to take fish or other living aquatic resources and any device or equipment had in possession which may be used for taking or attempting to take fish or other living aquatic resources.

(137) "Take" means, in its different tenses, the attempt or act of hooking, pursuing, netting, capturing, snaring, trapping, shooting, hunting, wounding, or killing by any means or device.

(138) "Tanning" means the conversion of alligator skins or fur pelts into an intermediate or finished form and includes the following: crust tanning alligator leather, dyeing alligator leather, glazing alligator leather, tanning fur pelts, shearing fur pelts, and dyeing fur pelts, and includes the dressing of skins and furs.

(139) "Threatened or endangered species" means any species of wildlife determined by the secretary or by the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, with concurrence by the commission, to be of a class that requires protective regulation to prevent its extinction or the destruction or deterioration of its economic usefulness within this state, presently or in the foreseeable future.

(140) "Total length" means the longest measurable distance from the outermost portion of the snout lengthwise to the outermost portion of the caudal fin. Extended snouts such as those occurring on marlin, swordfish, and sawfish are not included; snout refers to the outermost portion of the mandible in those and other fish having extended snouts.

(141) "Trammel net" means any device composed of layers of netting material attached to one or more float lines or one or more weighted bottom lines, with the layers of netting being constructed of fine mesh and of larger mesh so that a fish attempting to pass through the device pushes the smaller mesh through the larger mesh creating a pocket or compartment in which the fish is entrapped, entangled, or restricted.

(142) "Transport" means, in its different tenses, the act of shipping, attempting to ship, receiving or delivering for shipment, transporting, conveying, carrying, or exporting by air, land, or water, or by any means whatsoever.

(143) "Trap" means any device used in the capture of birds, quadrupeds, or fish.

(144) "Trawl" means any net, generally funnel-shaped, pulled through the water or along the bottom with otter boards to spread the mouth open while being fished. The term trawl also means and includes plumb staff beam trawls that do not exceed sixteen feet, that do not use otter boards but are held open laterally by a horizontal beam and vertically by two vertical beams (plumb staffs), and that are used while the vessel is under way.

(145) "Trigger" means any tension loaded rubber band or spring device that contains several feet of line and a hook or hooks, which is baited and set, and which automatically hooks and plays a fish.

(146) "Trotline" means a line which is four hundred forty yards or less to which hoop drops are tied at various intervals or gangions and hooks are attached and which may be retrieved manually or by electric or hydraulic haulers.

(147) "Unattended net" means any net in the water to which the licensee thereof cannot be located within two hundred feet thereof.

(148) "Underutilized species" means species of fish, bivalves, and reptiles that have commercial development potential which has not been fully realized. Historically, this has included shark, clams, alligators, mullet, squid, gafftopsail catfish, hardhead catfish, spot, pinfish, silver eel, spanish mackerel, croaker, and black drum.

(149) "Unserviceable crab trap" shall mean any crab trap which is not a serviceable crab trap.

(150)(a) "Wild birds" means and includes any and all of the following:

(i) Migratory game birds: all species of ducks, geese, rails of all species, coots (poule d'eau), gallinules, snipe, woodcock, and wild doves of all species.

(ii) Resident game birds: wild turkey, black francolin, bobwhite quail, and pheasants of all species.

(iii) Outlaw birds: crows, red-wing blackbirds (rice birds), English sparrows, starlings, and when destructive to crops, grackles and other species of blackbirds.

(iv) Protected birds: all resident and migratory wild birds not described hereinbefore as game birds or outlaw birds are protected.

(b) Wild birds does not include birds taken, possessed, or transported under the provisions set forth in the game breeder or hunting preserve licenses.

(151)(a) "Wild quadrupeds" means and includes any and all of the following:

(i) Game quadrupeds: wild deer, bears, squirrels, and wild rabbits.

(ii) Outlaw quadrupeds: coyotes, armadillos, and feral hogs.

(iii) Protected quadrupeds: wolves, cougars, bobcats, and foxes; provided that foxes and bobcats may be run with dogs.

(iv) Nongame quadrupeds: mink, otter, muskrat, nutria, beaver, weasels, raccoons, skunks, opossum, alligator, and other wild quadrupeds valuable for their skins or furs.

(b) Wild quadrupeds does not include wild quadrupeds taken, possessed, or transported under the provisions set forth in the game breeder license. The terms "wild quadrupeds" and "wild game quadrupeds" shall not include buffalo, bison, or beefalo.

(152) "Wildlife" means all species of wild vertebrates.

(153) "Wildlife and fisheries agent, special" (or "special agent") means any person appointed under authority of the secretary to serve in an honorary capacity without compensation.

(154) "Wildlife management area" means any area set aside, maintained, and supervised by the commission for the purpose of managing and harvesting wild birds, wild quadrupeds, fish, and other aquatic life under controlled conditions to afford maximum public hunting and fishing opportunity.

(155) "Wildlife refuge" means any area set aside and designated by the commission as a refuge on which wild birds and animals are protected. Control of certain forms of wildlife may be conducted by the department.

(156) "Wing net". (see "Lead net".).

(157) "Wire net" means a cone-shaped net of vegetable or synthetic materials, with a mesh no less than one inch square or two inches stretched, having throats or flues and which is stretched over wire of five-inch mesh or greater to support the webbing.

(158) "Work box" means a standard crab crate as used by a commercial crab fisherman aboard the vessel to sort or cull undersized crabs from the harvest in order to obtain a legal catch.

(159) "Yo-yo" means any spring-loaded reel device that contains several feet of line and a hook or hooks, which, when baited and set, automatically hooks and plays a fish.

Acts 1990, No. 54, §1; Acts 1990, No. 564, §1; Acts 1991, No. 157, §1, eff. July 2, 1991; Acts 1991, No. 631, §1; Acts 1991, No. 698, §1; Acts 1991, No. 708, §1; Acts 1991, No. 859, §1; Acts 1991, No. 931, §1; Acts 1992, No. 174, §1; Acts 1992, No. 256, §1, eff. July 1, 1993; Acts 1992, No. 499, §1, eff. June 22, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 528, §3, eff. June 29, 1992; Acts 1995, No. 155, §1; Acts 1995, No. 543, §2; Acts 1995, No. 604, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1039, §1, eff. June 29, 1995; Acts 1995, No. 1043, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1316, §§2, 3; Acts 1997, No. 205, §1; Acts 1997, No. 303, §1; Acts 1997, No. 802, §1, eff. July 10, 1997; Acts 1997, No. 1181, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1233, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1234, §1, eff. July 1, 1998; Acts 1997, No. 1237, §1; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 155, §1, eff. May 7, 1998; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 164, §2; Acts 1999, No. 177, §1; Acts 1999, No. 422, §1, eff. June 18, 1999; Acts 1999, No. 469, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1170, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1207, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1338, §1; Acts 2001, No. 149, §1; Acts 2001, No. 329, §1; Acts 2003, No. 274, §1; Acts 2003, No. 379, §1; Acts 2003, No. 566, §1; Acts 2004, No. 126, §1, eff. Nov. 15, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 240, §1; Acts 2008, No. 23, §1, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2010, No. 743, §2B, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2014, No. 429, §1; Acts 2016, No. 7, §1; Acts 2019, No. 293, §1; Acts 2021, No. 356, §3, eff. June 1, 2022; Acts 2022, No. 215, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:639.10 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 639.10
Liability
Status: in_force

A. The department, the state of Louisiana and its agencies, and any insurer of these groups shall not be liable for damages caused by activities required to be undertaken under the terms and conditions of state and federal permits acquired for reef development.

B. Any person or company who has transferred title of artificial reef construction materials to the state of Louisiana shall not be liable for damages arising from the use of such materials in an artificial reef, if such materials meet applicable requirements of the National Artificial Reef Plan published under Section 204 of the National Fishing Enhancement Act, and United States Department of Interior regulations.

Acts 1986, No. 100, §1, eff. June 23, 1986.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:1849 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 1849
Evaluation and permitting
Status: in_force

A. No person shall commence or engage in any activity governed by this Part or any rule pursuant thereto unless a permit is first obtained from the administrator.

B.(1) Prior to any final decision on an application for a permit for those activities that have the potential for significant ecological degradation, a written evaluation of the application may be prepared by the administrator in consultation with the division of administration, the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and with the advice of other agencies that the administrator determines may have an interest in the permit.

(2) The final decision on an application shall be in the form of a written report, shall include any required evaluation, and shall be part of the record of the decision. The report shall include an evaluation of the criteria provided for in this Section. The administrator shall give any required evaluation substantial weight in making the final decision. The administrator shall provide copies of the report with the division of administration, the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.

C. The criteria for an evaluation of an application for a permit shall consider the impact the activity may have on the characteristics and qualities of the natural and scenic river, including but not limited to the following:

(1) Wilderness qualities

(2) Scenic values

(3) Ecological regimes

(4) Recreation

(5) Fish and other aquatic life

(6) Wildlife

(7) Historical and archaeological

(8) Geological

(9) Botanical

(10) Water quality as determined by the Department of Environmental Quality

(11) Cultural

(12) Economics

D. A person who is denied a permit by the department may institute legal proceedings against the department in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court.

Acts 1988, No. 947, §1, eff. July 27, 1988; Acts 2004, No. 33, §4; Acts 2009, No. 365, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:799 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 799
MC Davis Conservation Fund
Status: in_force

A. There is hereby created and established within the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Fund, a special fund designated as the MC Davis Conservation Fund, hereinafter referred to as the "fund", as mandated by Vendor in the MC Davis Property transfer to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, which shall consist of management fees, certain revenues generated on and from the MC Davis Property and those monies donated or allocated for the protection, preservation, and stewardship of the forested wetlands in the Maurepas Swamp, Joyce, and Manchac Wildlife Management Areas. Monies in the fund shall be used solely for the implementation and administration of Subparts A, E, and F of this Part and R.S. 56:109 and for the preservation and management of the forested wetlands in the Maurepas Swamp, Joyce, and Manchac Wildlife Management Areas.

B. After allocation of money to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund as provided in Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, the treasurer shall deposit in and credit to the fund all of the following:

(1) All compensation received by the state for management and operation fees for the enhancement of the habitat conditions of the forested wetlands for wildlife and fishery resources and public users on the MC Davis Property.

(2) All compensation and fees charged by the state or the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission for the use of the MC Davis Property.

(3) All mineral revenues received by the state and revenues derived from other surface use activities on the MC Davis Property, except for revenues derived from an integrated coastal protection project as defined in R.S. 49:214.2, including revenues from the sale of carbon credits, which shall be deposited into the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund.

(4) All monies received by the state and derived from any sale of assets produced by the MC Davis Property, except for revenues derived from an integrated coastal protection project as defined in R.S. 49:214.2, including revenues from the sale of carbon credits, which shall be deposited into the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund.

(5) All donations of private funds or public contributions made to the state, department, or commission for the preservation, administration, management, and development of the forested wetlands in the Maurepas Swamp, Joyce, and Manchac Wildlife Management Areas, including the MC Davis Property, or for the activities conducted thereon.

C. The monies in the fund shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same manner as the state general fund and the interest earned on the investment of these monies shall be credited to the fund, after compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund. All unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund.

D. The monies in the fund shall be available only for the preservation, acquisition, administration, management, operation, enhancement, and development of the forested wetlands in the Maurepas Swamp, Joyce, and Manchac Wildlife Management Areas, including the MC Davis Property, or for the activities conducted thereon.

E. The monies in the fund shall be appropriated only for the purposes set forth in Subsection D of this Section. The legislature shall make no appropriation from the fund which is inconsistent with Subsection A of this Section.

Acts 2011, No. 404, §1, eff. July 1, 2011.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:53 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 53
Commissioned wildlife enforcement agents of the enforcement division may carry weapons
Status: in_force

Commissioned wildlife enforcement agents of the enforcement division of the department may carry weapons concealed or exposed while in the performance of their duties.

Acts 1985, No. 876, §3, eff. July 23, 1985; Acts 1999, No. 13, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:1906 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 1906
Endangered species stamps
Status: in_force

A. In addition to other methods of funding available for implementation of this Part the commission is authorized to issue and promote the sale to the general public of "endangered species" stamps, which shall be commemorative stamps, and which shall be limited to a maximum price of ten dollars for each stamp purchased.

B. Proceeds from the sale of these stamps shall be transmitted to the state treasurer who shall deposit the funds in a special account to be designated as the "endangered species fund", and which funds shall be used in addition to any other monies available for implementation of this Part.

Added by Acts 1974, No. 473, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:55 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 55
Search with or without warrant
Status: in_force

A. The secretary, the deputy secretary, or any commissioned wildlife enforcement agent of the enforcement division may visit, inspect, and examine, with or without search warrant, records, any cold storage plant, warehouse, boat, store, car, conveyance, automobile or other vehicle, airplane or other aircraft, basket or other receptacle, or any place of deposit for wild birds, wild quadrupeds, fish, or other aquatic life or any parts thereof whenever there is probable cause to believe that a violation has occurred.

B. Commissioned wildlife enforcement agents of the enforcement division are authorized to visit or inspect at frequent intervals without the need of search warrants, records, cold storage plants, bait stands, warehouses, public restaurants, public and private markets, stores, and places where wild birds, game quadrupeds, fish, or other aquatic life or any parts thereof may be kept and offered for sale, for the purpose of ascertaining whether any laws or regulations under the jurisdiction of the department have been violated. They also shall inspect establishments for commercial licenses required by the department to retail and/or wholesale commercial fish and bait fish where applicable under the provisions of this Chapter. The department may institute proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction for violation of laws or regulations under its jurisdiction.

Acts 1985, No. 876, §3, eff. July 23, 1985; Acts 1999, No. 13, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:1765 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 1765
Rules to preserve order and protect property; penalties
Status: in_force

A. The commission shall have authority to make and establish such rules and regulations for the preservation of order and the protection of property in the park as it deems necessary.

B. In addition to any penalties otherwise provided by law, violation of any of the rules and regulations promulgated by the commission pursuant to this Section shall be punishable by fine of not less than fifteen dollars nor more than two hundred fifty dollars.

Acts 1983, No. 485, §1, eff. July 27, 1983.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:25 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 25
Fish and wildlife restoration and management projects; assent to federal aid act; duties of commission
Status: in_force

A. The state of Louisiana hereby assents to the provisions of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (also known as the "Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act" and the "Fish Restoration and Management Projects Act" [16 U.S.C. §777 et seq.]) and the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (also known as the "Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act" [16 U.S.C. §669 et seq.]). The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is hereby authorized, empowered, and directed to perform such acts as may be necessary to the conduct and establishment of cooperative fish and wildlife restoration projects as defined in said acts of congress, in compliance with said acts and rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Interior thereunder.

B. The commission is hereby authorized to acquire by purchase, gift, eminent domain, or otherwise, all property necessary, useful, or convenient for the use of the commission; and no funds accruing to this state from license fees paid by the fishermen and hunters shall be diverted to any other purpose than the administration, implementation, and support of hunting and fishing activities and for the protection, propagation, preservation, and investigation of fish and wildlife.

Added by Acts 1952, No. 540, §1; Acts 2004, No. 566, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:266 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 266
Louisiana Fur Public Education and Marketing Fund
Status: in_force

A. Recognizing that the Louisiana fur industry is a vital aspect of Louisiana's coastal economic base and that in recent years worldwide fur markets and prices have been severely depressed creating extreme hardships not only for trappers, but also for coastal landowners, fur buyers, and fur dealers; and recognizing world trends questioning the consumptive utilization of wildlife species, and recognizing that these trends and economic conditions can have a severe impact on the fur industry; and recognizing the need to educate the public concerning fur trapping as sound wildlife management practice; and recognizing that the trapping of certain species of furbearers such as nutria and muskrat is the only realistic means for coastal landowners to effectively manage and protect over four million acres of invaluable coastal wetlands and protect adjacent agriculture; and recognizing that there is no cohesive, coordinated, and comprehensive effort to educate the public concerning the Louisiana fur industry or stabilize and strengthen domestic and international markets for Louisiana furs, the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby establish the Louisiana Fur Public Education and Marketing Fund.

B. Specific goals. (1) To educate the public regarding the need for trapping as a sound wildlife management tool and regarding the logic of managing furbearing species as renewable resources.

(2) To identify the current consumers of Louisiana furs.

(3) To identify present and potential Louisiana fur marketing problems, obstacles, and related significant issues.

(4) To strengthen existing markets and develop new markets and marketing strategies for raw and finished Louisiana fur products.

(5) To develop and implement an international advertising campaign to promote the utilization of raw and finished Louisiana fur products.

(6) To examine, evaluate, and make recommendations concerning any aspect of the fur industry including habitat management, harvest, and marketing which will enhance the future of the industry and perpetuate the conservation of these species.

C. The Louisiana Fur Advisory Council. (1) Pursuant to R.S. 36:605(B)(2), the secretary shall create the Louisiana Fur Advisory Council, which shall be within the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The Louisiana Fur Advisory Council shall be responsible for reviewing and approving recommended procedures and programs to be funded from the Louisiana Fur Public Education and Marketing Fund to ensure that any monies from the funds are expended for the specific goals of the council.

(2) This council shall be composed of nine members of which seven shall be appointed by the secretary.

(a) The individuals appointed by the secretary to this council shall represent a cross section of trappers and coastal landowners as follows:

(i) One member of the council shall represent trappers from north Louisiana.

(ii) One member shall represent trappers from southwest Louisiana.

(iii) One member shall represent trappers from southeast Louisiana.

(iv) One member shall represent trappers statewide.

(v) Three members shall represent coastal landowners.

(b) One member of the council shall be designated by the speaker of the House of Representatives and another member shall be designated by the president of the Senate.

(3) The secretary may appoint members recommended by the Louisiana Trappers and Alligator Hunters Association, which may submit nominations, in writing, to the secretary.

(4) The secretary or his designee shall be an ex officio member of said council and shall be present at all official meetings.

(5) All members of the council shall serve four-year terms.

D. Appropriations.

(1) All revenues received by the state from license fees imposed on trappers as required in R.S. 56:251(A)(1) shall be credited to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund. After a sufficient amount is allocated from that fund to pay all obligations secured by the full faith and credit of the state which become due and payable within any fiscal year, the state treasurer is authorized and directed to transfer annually all revenues derived from these license fees into a special fund designated as the Louisiana Fur Public Education and Marketing Fund.

(2) The state treasurer shall invest the monies in this fund in the same manner as monies in the state general fund. Any surplus monies remaining to the credit of the fund, after all appropriations of the preceding fiscal year have been made, shall remain to the credit of the fund. The state treasurer shall prepare and submit to the department on a quarterly basis a printed report showing the amount of money contained in the fund from all sources.

(3) Any amounts earned through investment of the monies in the fund shall remain to the credit of the fund and shall not revert to the state general fund.

E. Expenditures. (1) The monies made available by the legislature from the fund as provided in this Section or from any other source shall be used solely for the programs, purposes, and specific goals enumerated in this Section.

(2) The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shall maintain records of the sources of money received and the purposes therefor, as well as the person or persons to whom money is paid and the purpose therefor. Vouchers or receipts shall be kept for all money paid out. Money appropriated or otherwise made available to the department for authorized purposes shall be withdrawn from the treasury on warrant of the secretary of the department.

(3) The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, in utilizing surplus monies from the Louisiana Fur Public Education and Marketing Fund shall contract only upon recommendation of the Louisiana Fur Advisory Council, for any services relating to the specific goals enumerated in this Section. The secretary is hereby authorized and empowered to carry out any and all contracts entered into in order to achieve these goals.

F. Annual Reports. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shall make a written operating report to the legislature at the end of each fiscal year. This report shall contain a summary of revenues received, expenditures made, and the status of achievement of specific goals. This report shall be submitted to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources by the end of the calendar year.

Acts 1986, No. 455, §1, eff. July 2, 1986; Acts 1991, No. 1041, §1, eff. July 26, 1991; Acts 2005, No. 219, §1; Acts 2008, No. 272, §2; Acts 2008, No. 580, §7; Acts 2012, No. 153, §1; Acts 2024, No. 79, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:638.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 638.2
Findings
Status: in_force

The state of Louisiana recognizes that:

(1) Its fish resources are of great value and are renewable. These fish resources make many contributions to the state, including but not limited to the food supply, economy, and health of the state and recreational opportunities. With proper regulations of the harvest by fishermen, coupled with protection and enhancement of their freshwater, saltwater, and estuarine habitat, Louisiana's fish resources should be available to provide these benefits to the state indefinitely.

(2) As a consequence of increased fishing pressure or other factors and because of the limitations of fish conservation, management, and sustainability practices, certain stocks of fish may have been or will become overfished.

(3) The future productivity of renewable fish resources and their supporting habitats may be seriously jeopardized as a consequence of the continued loss of Louisiana coastal wetlands, or because of human actions affecting the functionality and value of the state's renewable fish resources and their supporting habitats.

(4) Both commercial and recreational fishing constitute a major source of employment and contribute significantly to the economy of the state. Many coastal areas are dependent upon such fishing and related activities and their economies have been damaged by pollution, habitat degradation, or overfishing.

(5) Fish resources are finite but renewable. If timely placed under sound management, the fisheries can be conserved and maintained so as to provide optimum and sustainable yields on a continuing basis.

(6) A strong state program for the wise conservation, management, and sustainability of the fish resources of Louisiana is necessary to maintain plentiful fish populations, to prevent overfishing, to rebuild reduced stocks, to ensure conservation, and to realize their full potential.

(7) The safe development or improvement of fisheries that are not fully or properly utilized by the Louisiana commercial and recreational fishermen and fishing industries should help to ensure that Louisiana benefits from the employment, food supply, recreation, and social and economic benefit that could be maintained or generated thereby, if pursued in such a fashion that is socially, scientifically, economically, anthropologically, and biologically sound for the state, the species, any related species, and their supporting habitats.

(8) A strong state program is necessary to advocate the importance of the functionality and value of Louisiana's waters and coastal wetlands as estuary and habitat for fish resources, the social and economic value of these resources to the state and the nation, and the need to actively seek to avoid any net loss of this functionality and value.

Acts 1991, No. 708, §1; Acts 2014, No. 553, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:333 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 333
Mullet; saltwater areas
Status: in_force

A. Mullet may be taken commercially in the saltwater areas of the state as described in R.S. 56:322(B) and 333(C). The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission shall adopt rules to regulate the taking of mullet. Such regulations, except as provided in Subsection B of this Section, shall provide for zones, permits, fees, and other provisions necessary to implement this Section.

B.(1) The season for taking mullet shall begin on the third Monday in October of each year and remain open until the third Monday in January. There shall be no commercial taking of mullet during the period from 5:00 a.m. on Saturday through 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. Except as provided in R.S. 56:333.3, mullet may not be taken commercially at any time outside of this season. There shall be no fishing pursuant to the provisions of this Section during the hours after sunset and before sunrise. The provisions of this Section are subject to quotas and size limits as established by law and rules and regulations of the commission.

(2) Except as provided in R.S. 56:333.3, mullet may only be taken commercially with a mullet strike net.

(3) The commercial taking of mullet is prohibited except by special permit issued by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries at a cost of one hundred dollars for residents of this state and four hundred dollars for those who are nonresidents.

(4) The commercial taking of mullet during the season by using a mullet strike net in excess of one thousand two hundred feet in length or by using more than one strike net from any vessel at any time is prohibited.

(5) Each mullet strike net shall have attached to it a tag issued by the department which states the name, address, and social security number of the owner of the net and the permit number of the permit issued to commercially take mullet. The department shall not issue any tag to a person who does not have a social security number.

C. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, in addition to other areas of the state, mullet may also be taken pursuant to the provisions of this Section in the following areas:

(1) The portion of Breton and Chandeleur Sounds south and west of a line beginning at the most northerly point on the south side of Taylor Pass at Latitude 29° 23' 18" 476 N. (Y-268, 131, 65), Longitude 89° 19' 00" 803 W. (X-2, 642, 161.69); thence run North 32° 32' West for 8.74 miles to a horizontal tank battery located in the vicinity of Battledore Reef and east of Little Battledore Island; thence run North 30° 47' East for 11 miles to the Mississippi River Gulf-Outlet channel at the lighted, privately maintained marker known as station "69-A" and "70-A".

(2) The portion of the Intracoastal Waterway in Orleans Parish from the overhead power lines at the Interharbor Navigation Canal east to the Rigolets.

(3) The portion of Lake Pontchartrain located south and east of the Interstate 10 bridge.

D.(1) No person shall be issued a license or permit for the commercial taking of mullet unless that person meets all of the following requirements:

(a) The person shall provide proof that he purchased a valid Louisiana commercial saltwater gill net license in any two of the years 1995, 1994, and 1993.

(b) The person shall provide copies of unamended, original income tax returns, including Schedule C from the federal form 1040, which show that the person derived more than fifty percent of his earned income from the capture and sale of seafood species in any two of the years 1995, 1994, and 1993.

(c) The person shall not have applied for or received any assistance pursuant to R.S. 56:13.1(C).

(2) The commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the entry of commercial fishermen into the commercial mullet fishery. Such rules shall include the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection as minimum requirements.

E. The department shall not issue nor shall any person receive more than one permit or license to commercially take mullet.

F.(1) Violation of any provision of this Section or of any Wildlife and Fisheries Commission regulation pertaining to mullet fishery shall constitute a Class 6 violation. The offender shall also be penalized as follows:

(a) For a first offense, the offender shall forfeit any mullet permit or mullet strike net license issued to him and shall be barred from obtaining a mullet permit or a mullet strike net license for the remainder of the period for which it was issued plus one year, during which the offender shall be barred from participating in any mullet fishery.

(b) For a second offense, the offender shall forfeit any mullet permit or mullet strike net license issued to him and shall be barred from obtaining a mullet permit or a mullet strike net license for the remainder of the period for which it was issued plus two years, during which the offender shall be barred from participating in any mullet fishery.

(c) For a third offense, the offender shall forfeit any mullet permit or mullet strike net license issued to him and shall be forever barred from obtaining a mullet permit or a mullet strike net license and from participating in the mullet fishery.

(2) Any person who participates in the fishery while barred shall be penalized under the provisions of a Class 7-B violation.

G.(1) Beginning March 1, 2025, and every five years thereafter, the commission shall make a peer reviewed and evaluated report to the legislature no later than March first that contains the following information on mullet:

(a) The spawning potential ratio.

(b) A biological condition and profile of the species and stock assessment.

(2) If the report shows that the spawning potential ratio is below thirty percent, the department shall close the season within two weeks for a period of at least one year.

H. Repealed by Acts 2021, No. 356, §5, eff. Nov. 15, 2021.

I. Repealed by Acts 2001, No. 147, §2.

Acts 1991, No. 1051, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1316, §2; Acts 1997, No. 527, §1, eff. July 3, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 838, §1; Acts 2001, No. 51, §1; Acts 2001, No. 147, §§1, 2; Acts 2011, No. 65, §1; Acts 2021, No. 356, §5, eff. Nov. 15, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 208, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:753 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 753
Trapping, hunting, or fishing on preserve
Status: in_force

No person shall trap, hunt, or fish on the preserve except under such rules and regulations as are made by the commissioner.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:1681 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 1681
Creation; purpose and duties; members; appointments and terms; compensation; chairman; meetings
Status: in_force

A.(1) The State Parks and Recreation Commission is hereby created. The purpose of the commission is to promote the goals and objectives of the office of state parks and act in an advisory capacity to that office and its assistant secretary and the secretary of the department in matters relating to parks, recreation facilities, programs, and the efficient administration thereof. It shall also cooperate with the political subdivisions of the state when officially requested.

(2) The commission shall be composed of eighteen members, as follows:

(a) The governor or his designee.

(b) The secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries or his designee.

(c) One member to be appointed by the governor from a panel of four members nominated by the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc.

(d) One member to be appointed by the governor from a panel of four members nominated by the General Federation of Women's Clubs of Louisiana, Inc.

(e) Four members to be appointed by the governor from a panel of eight names submitted by the Louisiana Recreation and Parks Association.

(f) Four members, at large, to be appointed by the governor, at least two of whom shall be members of a minority.

(g) One member to be appointed by the governor from a panel of four names submitted by the Louisiana Municipal Association.

(h) One member to be appointed by the governor from a panel of four names submitted by the Louisiana Police Jury Association.

(i) One member to be appointed by the governor from a panel of four names submitted by the Louisiana Nature Conservancy.

(j) The assistant commissioner of the office of forestry of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry or his designee.

(k) One member to be appointed by the governor from a panel of four names submitted by the Louisiana Preservation Alliance.

(l) One member to be appointed by the governor from a panel of four names submitted by the Foundation for Historical Louisiana.

(3) Each appointment by the governor shall be submitted to the Senate for confirmation.

B.(1) Each appointive member shall serve a term concurrent with that of the governor making the appointment. An appointive member shall continue to serve until his successor is appointed and takes office. A vacancy shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment within sixty days, except that the nominating group shall submit a list of three names from which the appointment shall be made from among the membership. The qualification requirements for appointment of each member to the commission shall remain in effect for the duration of such appointment. In the event a member, after appointment, should fail to maintain the qualifications or classification of his original appointment, that member shall resign or be removed and shall be replaced with a member possessing the proper qualifications and classifications.

(2) The members shall be persons who have displayed an active interest in, and knowledge of, the work which falls under the jurisdiction of the commission. Each member of the commission shall receive a per diem of twenty-five dollars for each day of attendance at meetings of the commission and upon approval of the secretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism shall receive actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties. The commission shall elect its chairman from among its members for a two-year term. The commission shall have no power granted in this Chapter, unless and until, at least one person shall have been appointed thereto who is of a minority race, and one person shall have been appointed who is a woman.

C. The chairman shall convene regular quarterly meetings. Members shall not be paid for more than four meetings a year. Special meetings shall be held on the call of the chairman, or on request of a majority of the members. Any ten members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any and all business at any regular or special meeting. In the absence of the chairman, the remaining members shall appoint a temporary chairman having all the powers of the absent chairman.

Acts 1980, No. 826, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 1980; Acts 1980, No. 827, §1. Amended by Acts 1981, No. 60, §§1, 2; Acts 1988, No. 727, §1, eff. July 15, 1988; Acts 1991, No. 942, §1; Acts 1997, No. 80, §1; Acts 2004, No. 789, §2; Acts 2010, No. 9, §1; Acts 2010, No. 551, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:576 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 576
Disbursements
Status: in_force

Disbursements from the fund shall be made once each fiscal year as provided by rules of the department. The department shall set a date which shall be at the end of the primary fishing season as the cut off date for determination of compensation from the fund for each vessel. No compensation shall be paid to a person who is not a Louisiana resident.

Added by Acts 1980, No. 834, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:1902 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 1902
Definitions
Status: in_force

For the purpose of this Part:

(1) "Native plant" shall mean any nonvascular or vascular plant occurring outside of cultivation, excluding species that are known to have escaped cultivation or to have been intentionally or unintentionally introduced from outside of Louisiana since European colonization.

(2) "Threatened or endangered species" shall mean any species of wildlife or native plant determined by the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries or by the secretary of the Interior of the United States with concurrence by the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to be of a class that requires protective regulation to prevent its extinction or the destruction or deterioration of its economic usefulness within this state, presently or in the foreseeable future.

(3) "Wildlife" shall mean all species of wild vertebrates, and invertebrates.

Added by Acts 1974, No. 473, §1. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 595, §1; Acts 1981, No. 736, §1; Acts 2017, No. 228, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:1935 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 1935
Transparency
Status: in_force

The Louisiana Outdoors Forever Program, fund, project selection board, and technical advisory board shall be subject to all applicable laws concerning public meetings and public records, including the Open Meetings Law, the Public Records Law, and the Ethics Code. In addition, the meetings of each board shall be open to the public, broadcast via the internet when possible, and allow time for public comment. Meeting minutes shall be made available to the public. Information about the members of each board shall also be readily available to the public.

Acts 2022, No. 714, §2, eff. June 18, 2022.

NOTE: Pursuant to R.S. 56:1936, the Louisiana Outdoors Forever Program terminates July 1, 2033.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:425.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 425.1
Joint leasing of water bottoms for oyster cultivation and harvest
Status: in_force

A. In an effort to allocate competing and dual claims to the ownership of water bottoms in the best interest of all parties, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with a private claimant whereby certain water bottoms may, in cooperation between the state and the private claimant, be leased to a third party for the cultivation and harvest of oysters. Any such agreement shall not in any way be interpreted to indicate or determine ownership of the water bottom nor shall any such agreement be interpreted to allocate or designate ownership of mineral rights beneath the water bottom. The department may promulgate under the Administrative Procedure Act the processes by which such agreements shall be negotiated and administered.

B. Any such agreement may originate with either the department or the private claimant and any annual rental payments required by R.S. 56:428(C) shall be made to the department as provided by R.S. 56:428(C). Except for the requirements of R.S. 56:425(A) for determination of state ownership, the lease shall be subject to the provisions of Subpart D of Part VII of Chapter 1 of Title 56 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 in addition to any other conditions of the agreement between the state and the private claimant.

C. The joint agreement between the state and the private claimant shall remain in effect throughout the term of any lease issued subject to the agreement or until ownership of the water bottom has been determined by final judgment of the court. Any lease subject to the joint agreement shall terminate at the time a court has issued a final determination of ownership of the water bottom.

D. Beginning July 1, 2016, and continuing until the final implementation of Phase Three of Section 2 of Act No. 808 of the 2008 Regular Session as amended by Acts 2016, No. 595 of the 2016 Regular Session of the Legislature, oysters found on a vessel owned and operated by the holder of a private oyster lease executed and properly recorded prior to February 1, 2016, or operated by an agent or employee of such private oyster leaseholder shall be presumed to have been legally harvested from the leaseholder's private oyster lease. In order to document the legality of the harvest of oysters from the private lease, a certified copy of the lease as filed in the public records of the parish in which the lease is located shall be carried on each vessel used to harvest oysters from the private lease and shall be available for examination by representatives of the department.

E. In order to preserve private contract rights and to protect existing investments, the department shall recognize as valid a private oyster lease in effect and properly recorded as of February 1, 2016, until such time as the processing of the lease acreage pursuant to the provisions of Phase Three of Section 2 of Act No. 808 of the 2008 Regular Session as amended by Acts 2016, No. 595 of the 2016 Regular Session of the Legislature is complete. Such recognition shall not in any way be interpreted to indicate or determine ownership of the water bottom nor shall any such agreement be interpreted to allocate or designate ownership of mineral rights beneath the water bottom.

F. For the purposes of this Section, "dual claim" shall refer to a claim to immovable property for which a private claimant holds title and to which the state also makes an ownership claim as a sovereign navigable water bottom, but to which title has not been adjudicated to either party by a final, unappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

Acts 2016, No. 570, §1, eff. July 1, 2016.

NOTE: See Act 595 of 2016 Regular Session, §2, for details of moratorium lifting procedure.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:572 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 572
Legality of contracts
Status: in_force

To the end that the seafood industries of this state may prosper and may not be destroyed, no contract or agreement which is designed or intended to promote the advancement and welfare of such industries shall be held to be illegal as a contract, conspiracy, or combination in restraint of trade nor shall the parties to the contract or agreement be penalized or enjoined as trusts, monopolies, conspirators, or combinations in restraint of trade, if the contract or agreement has been approved in writing by the secretary.

Amended by Acts 1981, No. 736, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:330 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 330
Crawfish harvesters; crawfish traps
Status: in_force

A. Crawfish harvesters shall be subject to the jurisdiction and rules and regulations of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.

B. Crawfish may be taken by properly licensed individuals with approved crawfish traps. The openings of the flues or throats on crawfish traps shall not exceed two inches.

C. The secretary may promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of this Section.

Acts 1995, No. 543, §2; Acts 2021, No. 356, §3, eff. June 1, 2022.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:581 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 581
Expropriation of lands
Status: in_force

The secretary shall build, operate, and maintain fish hatcheries in the state. He may expropriate, in the manner, form, and method provided by law in ordinary cases of expropriation, any lands necessary for public use as a hatchery lying adjacent to any property belonging to the department or to the state in the possession of the department.

Amended by Acts 1974, No. 717, §1; Acts 1981, No. 736, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:726 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 726
Fees for privilege of hunting and fishing; erection of camps
Status: in_force

The commission may charge an annual fee for the privilege of hunting or fishing in the preserve, not to exceed one dollar per year to residents of the parish nor fifty cents per day to non-residents of the parish. The revenue derived from such fees shall be used and expended by the commission for the benefit of the preserve and for the purpose of erecting and maintaining at suitable points public camping places, boats, and accommodations for the use and benefit of the citizens and patrons of the preserve.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:47 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 47
Venue when offense committed in lake, bay, or other body of water
Status: in_force

If any offense under this Chapter is alleged to have been committed in any lake, bay, inlet, or other body of water bounded by more than one parish within the waters of this state, any court in any parish bordering on such waters has territorial jurisdiction.

Acts 1981, No. 837, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:725 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 725
Expropriation of property; revocation of rules and regulations
Status: in_force

Governing authorities of parishes availing themselves of the provisions of this Sub-part may expropriate such property, under the rules and regulations provided by law, as is necessary to the establishment of the preserve and to the establishment of fishing and hunting camps provided for in R.S. 56:726, and may annul, revoke, and set aside any rule or regulation made by the commission when petitioned by not less than fifty citizens and taxpayers of the parish.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:1693 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 1693
Exemption from entrance fees; school children
Status: in_force

Any school child who is on a field trip conducted as part of the curriculum of the school and any classroom teacher, parent, bus driver and any other person accompanying a school child on such a field trip shall be exempt from paying the general admission charge to any state park, museum or related state facility in Louisiana. This exemption shall be valid from Monday through Friday during the months of October through March. The office of state parks shall promulgate regulations to implement the provisions thereof.

Acts 1980, No. 827, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:480 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 480
Catch limitations
Status: in_force

In the event the commission should determine that any or all areas are being overharvested, the commission is hereby authorized to impose catch rate limitations. The commission should consider catch rate information obtained from monthly reports, meat yield data, coincidence of low production in relation to clams as compared to other fisheries production for a given time frame, and any other information it deems pertinent in determining limitations. Any such limitations shall be made public no later than October 1 preceding the year affected.

Added by Acts 1979, No. 616, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:259 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 259
Open season; method of taking animals; prohibited devices; possession and sale of skins
Status: in_force

A. The open season for taking nongame quadrupeds, in any area of one or more parishes shall be fixed by the commission. The commission may extend, curtail or prohibit the trapping in any area of the state each year.

B. The commission shall at its discretion open or close the season for the taking or possession of alligators by area within the state. The commission shall also prescribe methods of taking alligators and hours within which alligators may be taken.

C.(1) Nongame furbearing quadrupeds may be taken in the open trapping season, but only by properly licensed trappers, and only by means of a trap. Except as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, the use of dogs or of guns or other firearms, bows and arrows, gigs, spears, pitchforks, or other weapons or any like devices in hunting and taking nongame quadrupeds, or the use of explosives, chemicals, and smokes of any kind to drive furbearing quadrupeds out of their holes, dens, or houses is prohibited. Raccoons, nutria, and opossums may be taken for sport as provided for in R.S. 56:116.1, and nutria in open season may be taken additionally by the use of a standard .22 caliber rifle only between the hours of sunrise and sunset. Beaver may be taken as provided for in R.S. 56:105. This Subsection does not apply to the methods or means by which alligators may be taken.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, dogs may be used during the taking of nutria between the hours of sunrise and sunset, except during deer season where still hunting only is allowed and during turkey nesting season as determined by the commission.

D. The taking of alligators is prohibited between the hours of sunset and sunrise. The taking of alligators out of season is prohibited.

E. Nothing contained in this Subpart shall deprive landowners and lessees of agricultural or forest lands or their agents, representatives, and employees, of their right to kill nutria and beaver as a pest without a license on agricultural or forest lands owned or leased by them or in residential areas, or in waterways and on the banks of waterways adjacent to the agricultural lands, except during open trapping season, a license shall be required. Nutria and beaver may be taken at any time and by any means in these areas except that nutria and beaver cannot be taken by use of a headlight and gun between the hours of sunset and sunrise.

F. No pelting during the closed trapping season shall be permitted at any time, except with department authorization. The sale of carcasses of nongame quadrupeds is prohibited during the closed trapping season, except with department authorization. The provisions of this Subsection do not apply to nongame quadrupeds raised on farms.

G. Licensed trappers may hold in captivity live nongame quadrupeds, except alligators, during the open trapping season. Such animals must have been acquired by legal trapping methods. Such animals held in captivity by a trapper must be released or pelted by the last day of the open trapping season. However, a licensed trapper may apply for a nongame quadruped breeder's or exhibitor's license, as provided for in R.S. 56:262.1, and continue holding such animals in captivity as long as the license has not expired. A licensed trapper, holding any live nongame quadrupeds except alligators, may offer for sale such live animals to any licensed nongame quadruped breeder or exhibitor during the open trapping season. During any such transaction, a bill of sale must be provided by the trapper to the nongame breeder or exhibitor and retained for a period of one year.

H. Violation of any of the provisions of this Section except for Subsections C, D, and F constitutes a class two violation. Violation of any of the provisions of Subsections C, D, or F constitutes a class four violation.

Acts 1970, No. 550, §1; Amended by Acts 1980, No. 596, §1; Acts 1981, No. 838, §1; Acts 1982, No. 730, §2; Acts 1988, No. 88, §1; Acts 1992, No. 499, §1, eff. June 22, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 528, §1, eff. June 29, 1992; Acts 1995, No. 154, §1; Acts 1997, No. 304, §1; Acts 1999, No. 71, §1; Acts 1999, No. 160, §1; Acts 2001, No. 226, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:139 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 139
Criminal penalty
Status: in_force

A. Whoever violates any of the provisions of this Subpart, where no fine or imprisonment has been otherwise specifically provided, shall be guilty of a class one violation. For the third offense, the license under which said violation occurred shall be revoked and shall not be reinstated at any time during the period for which it has been issued and for one year thereafter. The jail sentences herein provided shall be mandatory except for the first and second offenses, which shall be at the discretion of the court, and no sentence or fine shall be suspended for any cause or reason whatever, nor shall any diminution of any sentence be granted or allowed for good behavior or otherwise.

B. Upon conviction for any offense for which a penalty is provided by Subsection (A) hereof or by any other provision of this Subpart, and in addition to such penalty, the court may suspend or revoke the offender's hunting and/or fishing license and any or all privileges to hunt or to fish in this state that may be granted under any law or color of law whenever, in the judgment of the court, the circumstances warrant suspension or revocation, and in such case the suspension or revocation shall be for a period not to exceed the period for which the license was issued plus one year thereafter.

Amended by Acts 1958, No. 133, §1; Acts 1970, No. 339, §1; Acts 1993, No. 188, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:317 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 317
Louisiana Catch and Cook Program; preparation of recreational fish or alligator in retail food establishments
Status: in_force

A. Notwithstanding any provision of the state Sanitary Code or any other law or regulation to the contrary, it shall be lawful for retail food establishments to receive and prepare any freshwater or saltwater recreational fish as defined in R.S. 56:8 or alligator as provided in this Section.

B.(1) The secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is hereby authorized to establish, manage, and promote, in conjunction with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, the Louisiana Charter Boat Association, and the Louisiana Restaurant Association, the Louisiana Catch and Cook Program, whereby a retail food establishment is authorized to prepare any fish legally taken by a licensed charter captain or a licensed recreational fisherman or any alligator legally taken by a licensed alligator hunter for consumption by that charter boat captain, recreational fisherman, or alligator hunter or any person in the charter boat captain's, fisherman's, or hunter's party.

(2) The program shall be established through the promulgation and adoption of rules and regulations in conjunction with the Louisiana Department of Health and in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. Such rules and regulations shall include but are not limited to the following which shall be enforced by Louisiana Department of Health, office of public health:

(a) The retail food establishment shall complete, date, and have the recreational fisherman or alligator hunter who brings the fish or alligator in for preparation sign an assumption of risk form. The completed, dated, and signed form shall be maintained at the establishment for a period of no less than ninety days. The establishment shall provide the completed forms to the state health officer upon request.

(b) The retail food establishment shall receive only fish or alligator meat, within individual fishing limits, that has been cleaned, filleted, placed in clean, food-grade, single-service packaging, labeled, and properly refrigerated.

(c) The retail food establishment shall inspect the fish or alligator for freshness and proper receiving temperature.

(d) The fish or alligator shall be properly labeled with the date and time the fish or alligator are caught, and the full name and address of the licensed charter captain, recreational fisherman, or alligator hunter.

(e) The retail food establishment shall store, prepare, and otherwise handle the fish or alligator separately from products being prepared for and served to the general public.

(f) The retail food establishment shall store, prepare, and otherwise handle the fish or alligator in compliance with provisions of the state Sanitary Code.

(g) The retail food establishment shall prepare and serve the fish to the recreational fisherman or alligator to the alligator hunter or any person in the fisherman's or hunter's party within four hours of receipt of the fish or alligator.

(h) Containers, preparation tables, cutting boards, utensils, and other food preparation equipment used to prepare and serve the fish or alligator shall be properly cleaned and sanitized in accordance with provisions of the state Sanitary Code prior to use preparing foods to serve to the general public.

(i) The fish or alligator shall be served directly to the recreational fisherman or alligator hunter or any person in the fisherman's or hunter's party immediately upon the completion of cooking and shall not be served to the general public.

C. Any retail food establishment or licensed charter captain that wishes to participate in the Louisiana Catch and Cook Program shall apply to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to be issued a participation permit by the department. There shall be no fee for the permit. The permit may be suspended or revoked by the department for any violation of the rules and regulations of this program. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shall provide the name and location of each participating retail food establishment to the Louisiana Department of Health, office of public health, upon request.

Acts 2014, No. 577, §1; Acts 2016, No. 241, §1; Acts 2025, No. 201, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:639.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 639.3
Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this Subpart, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) "Artificial reef" means a structure or system of structures which is constructed, placed, or permitted in waters covered under this Subpart for the purpose of enhancing fishery resources and commercial and recreational fishing opportunities.

(2) "CCEER" means Center for Coastal, Energy, and Environmental Resources.

(3) "Department" means the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

(4) REPEALED BY ACTS 1993, NO. 271, §2.

(5) "Initiative" means the Artificial Reef Initiative at Louisiana State University, which is developing a Louisiana Artificial Reef Development Plan.

(6) "National Fishing Enhancement Act" means the federal artificial reef development legislation, PL 98-623, Title II.

(7) "Reef materials" means any materials allowed under the National Artificial Reef Plan, adopted pursuant to the National Fishing Enhancement Act for construction of artificial reefs.

(8) "Secretary" means the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

(9) "Waters covered under this Subpart" means the navigable waters of Louisiana and waters of the federal exclusive economic zone adjacent to Louisiana waters.

(10) REPEALED BY ACTS 1993, NO. 271, §2.

(11) "Sea Grant" means the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program.

Acts 1986, No. 100, §1, eff. June 23, 1986; Acts 1993, No. 271, §§1, 2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:2027 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 2027
Powers of the commission
Status: in_force

A. The district, acting by and through its commission, shall have and exercise all powers of a political subdivision necessary or convenient for the carrying out of its objects and purposes, including but not limited to rights and powers set out in this Chapter:

(1) To sue and be sued.

(2) To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.

(3) To acquire by donation, grant, purchase, lease or otherwise, all property, including servitudes or rights of use; to hold and use any franchise or property, immovable or movable, corporeal or incorporeal, or any interest therein, necessary or desirable for carrying out the objects and purposes of the district.

(4) To receive by grant, donation, or otherwise, any sum of money, or property, aid, or assistance from the United States, the state of Louisiana, or any political subdivision thereof, or any person, firm, or corporation.

(5) To enter into contracts for the purchase, acquisition, construction, maintenance, and improvement of works and facilities necessary in connection with the purposes of the district.

(6) In its own name and on its own behalf to incur debt and to issue general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, certificates, notes and other evidences of indebtedness and to levy and cause to be collected ad valorem taxes as provided in this Chapter and as may be provided by general law.

(7) To require and issue licenses with respect to its properties and facilities.

(8) To regulate the imposition of fees and rentals charged by the district for its facilities and for services rendered by it.

(9) To mortgage properties constructed or acquired and to borrow money and pledge all or part of its revenues, leases, rents or other advantages as security for such loans.

(10) To sell immovable property owned by the district after legal notice as provided by law for the judicial sale of immovable property.

(11) To appoint officers, agents, and employees, prescribe their duties, and fix their compensation.

(12) To contract, upon such terms as it may agree upon for legal, financial, engineering, and other professional services necessary or expedient in the conduct of its affairs.

(13) To utilize the services of the executive departments of the state upon mutually agreeable terms and conditions.

(14) To do any and all things necessary or proper for the government, regulation, development, and control of the business of the district.

(15) The district may receive funds from the owner or owners of any structure to be utilized as reef material in consideration of the district utilizing the structure.

B. The legislature may confer additional powers upon the district not inconsistent with the provisions hereof; provided that no such provisions shall impair any contract lawfully entered into by the district.

Acts 1991, No. 179, §1, eff. July 2, 1991.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:1687 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 1687
Secretary, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism; powers
Status: in_force

The secretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism may:

(1) Accept from any person, corporation, association, or other entity, municipal, state, or federal government, or from any other agency, gifts, contributions, bequests, or donations of money or other personal property, lands, water bottoms, or other immovable property to be expended or used for establishing, developing, improving, or maintaining any office of state parks holding.

(2) Enter into agreement with the federal government or any other agency, or both, for acquiring by lease, purchase, or otherwise, such lands as are desirable for office of state parks holdings.

(3) Acquire in the name of the state by purchase, lease, agreement, expropriation or otherwise, any lands or water bottoms deemed necessary or desirable for the most orderly development or improvement of office of state parks holdings.

(4) Construct and maintain canals and ditches, through any lands of private individuals or corporations, sufficient to properly drain any office of state parks holding; the right of way for such canals and ditches may be acquired in the same manner as lands or water bottoms for office of state parks holdings.

(5) When lands are acquired or leased under this Part, make expenditures from any fund not otherwise obligated, for the management, development, and utilization of such areas, sell or otherwise dispose of products from such lands, and make any rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this Part.

(6) Sell, lease, or sublease lands under the jurisdiction of the office of state parks when he believes it advantageous to the state to do so in the most orderly development and improvement of the office of state parks holdings but only in accordance with the sale and lease laws of public lands of the state of Louisiana and the provisions of R.S. 36:204.

(7) For a public purpose, engage in cooperative endeavors with the state and its political subdivisions, or political corporations, with neighboring states in the United States, or the agencies of either, or with any public or private association, corporation or individual in matters relating to acquiring, except by expropriation, planning, establishing, developing, improving or maintaining any park, parkway or recreational area.

(8) Construct and operate suitable public service privileges and conveniences on any office of state parks holding, and collect reasonable fees and charges for the use of such facilities.

(9) Charge a fee and collect rents and other payments for the leasing of concessions or granting of other privileges in or on an office of state parks holding. Such leases shall otherwise be granted in accordance with applicable requirements of the public bid law of the state, state procurement laws, procedures of the division of administration, and other applicable provisions of law that govern the granting of leases, concessions, or other privileges on such holdings, including R.S. 23:3023.

(10) Exchange lands when it is necessary to do so in order to obtain other lands of value by the office of state parks. However, lands which have been incorporated as a part of an established state park shall be exchanged only after receiving approval for such exchange by the legislature of the state of Louisiana and after the advertisement provisions of Paragraph (6) of this Section have been complied with. However, exchanges of property that have been agreed to by the parties and for which written approval has been granted by the office of facility planning and control, division of administration, prior to the effective date of this Paragraph, shall not be required to comply with advertisement provisions of this Paragraph nor shall it require approval of the legislature. Nor shall any property that has been authorized for transfer to and used by a political subdivision through a cooperative endeavor agreement, which agreement has been executed prior to the effective date of this Paragraph, require approval of the legislature in order to effect the transfer of property.

(11) In consultation with the board of commissioners of the Poverty Point Reservoir District, make, alter, amend, and promulgate rules and regulations, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, to regulate recreational uses of any body of water located wholly within Poverty Point Reservoir State Park; however, such rules and regulations shall be subject to and shall not conflict with the constitutional authority of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.

(12)(a) Sell certain state park lands as described below, in exchange for consideration proportionate to the appraised value of the property, and use the proceeds of that sale to acquire property to expand existing park areas in Union Parish, to add new facilities on existing park areas in Union Parish, or for general repairs and improvements to existing facilities on existing park areas within Union Parish.

(b) That certain parcel of land comprising 90 acres, more or less, excluding mineral rights, situated within the city of Farmerville and along the shoreline of Lake D'Arbonne in Sections 25 and 36, Township 21 North, Range 1 West, Union Parish, Louisiana.

Acts 1980, No. 827, §1; Acts 1985, No. 660, §2, eff. July 16, 1985; Acts 1988, No. 326, §3, eff. July 7, 1988; Acts 1988, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 1, §4, eff. Oct. 13, 1988; Acts 2003, No. 890, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2011, No. 148, §1, eff. June 24, 2011; Acts 2017, No. 190, §2, eff. June 12, 2017.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:431.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 431.1
Devices to protect oysters from predation; use on leased acreage
Status: in_force

A. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries may permit the use on leased acreage of devices to protect oysters from predation. The permit shall be issued to a leaseholder and shall not be transferrable. Such devices shall be in compliance with all existing state and federal fishing laws and regulations. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any device permitted under the provisions of this Section may be transported or used in compliance with the provisions of this Section. The department shall promulgate, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, rules and regulations for such a permit. The rules shall at a minimum specify the following:

(1) That the application for the permit shall be accompanied by an application fee of one hundred dollars, and the fee for the permit shall be fifty dollars per acre permitted, not to exceed one thousand dollars.

(2) That the material used for the device shall:

(a) Not be monofilament or multifilament.

(b) Not be made to resemble, appear, or be construed to be a gill net, trammel net, or strike net as those terms are defined in R.S. 56:8, or any type of device which might entangle marine life.

(c) Be approved by the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission and the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources. The rules shall establish the procedure for such approval, including timetables.

(3) That the material authorized for such device shall have no openings that exceed one and one-quarter inch bar or two and one-half inches stretched.

(4) That the vertical profile of the device shall not raise the water bottom by more than one-half foot or shall be limited to one-tenth of the depth of the water where the device is located, whichever measure is larger, and that the device shall not restrict the free passage of fish and other marine life over the device.

(5) Requirements for reporting data or other information by the leaseholders necessary for the department to monitor the activities under the permit.

(6) Enforcement penalties for permit violations shall be considered a class four violation.

B. The area permitted for use of a device to protect oysters from predation shall not exceed ten acres per lease site, and each lease site shall be limited to the use of only one device. The area permitted shall meet the standards set forth by the Louisiana Department of Health in its oyster regulations. The device must comply with United States Coast Guard regulations relative to navigation and markings. Prior to application to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for a permit to use a device, the leaseholder shall have obtained all other local, state, and federal permits necessary for such activity, including a coastal use permit.

C. The department may permit the use of devices to protect oysters from predation on no more than one hundred acres east of the Mississippi, no more than one hundred acres between the Mississippi River and Bayou Lafourche, no more than one hundred acres between Bayou Lafourche and the Atchafalaya River, and no more than one hundred acres west of the Atchafalaya River. The permit issued by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shall authorize use of a device only during the months of March, April, October, and November. The permit shall require liability insurance to be held by the leaseholder sufficient to cover any damages that might occur as a result of the use of such device.

D. Repealed by Acts 2010, No. 263, §1.

Acts 2005, No. 438, §1, eff. July 11, 2005; Acts 2008, No. 580, §7; Acts 2010, No. 263, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:1621 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 1621
Exploitation of natural resources by director or employees prohibited; removal or dismissal for violation; application
Status: in_force

A. Neither the director of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, the state forester, nor any salaried officer or employee of the wildlife and fisheries commission or of the forestry commission shall be:

(1) Actively interested in the exploiting, for personal gain, of any natural resources of the state;

(2) Employed by any person engaged in exploiting any natural resources of the state; or

(3) An officer of or a member of the board of directors of any corporation engaging in the exploitation of natural resources of the state.

B. Violation of this section shall be a ground for removal from office or dismissal from employment.

C. Classified employees of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission or the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries may engage in an activity described in Subsection A, provided that the activity is not prohibited by other law and is approved by the director of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.

Amended by Acts 1974, No. 717, §1; Acts 2004, No. 836, §1, eff. July 12, 2004.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:308 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 308
Penalty
Status: in_force

A. Violation of R.S. 56:301.1(A), (B), and (C), as applied to recreational fishermen, or violation of Subpart B of this Part constitutes a class one violation.

B. Violation of any of the provisions of this Part, except those listed in Subsection A of this Section, constitutes a class three violation.

Acts 1986, No. 904, §1.

{{NOTE: SEE ACTS 1986, NO. 904, §5.}}
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 2
Supervision and direction of commission; meetings
Status: in_force

A. The commission shall have general control, management, supervision, and direction of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. The commission is a policy-making and budgetary-control board, with no administrative functions. The commission shall have sole authority to establish definite management programs and policies and to approve and accept all contracts at its discretion. It shall make such studies and investigations as it thinks necessary. It shall formulate the policies and shall determine the wisdom and efficacy of the policies, plans, rules, regulations and proceedings of the commission.

B. No appointed member of the commission may prescribe or direct the conduct of the commission or the action of the director or any subordinate member thereof in any matter or case unless first authorized by the board in a meeting open to the public.

C. The commission shall not take any action except by vote in meeting assembled, all actions shall be included in the minutes.

D.(1) The commission shall hold an open meeting at least once each month. The commission shall annually, at the first meeting in January, elect one of its members as chairman and one of its members as vice chairman. It may hold other meetings at its discretion or on call of its chairman. A majority of the members constitutes a quorum of the commission.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, if the governor declares a state of emergency pursuant to R.S. 29:721 et seq., the chairman may cancel the monthly meeting. In addition, the secretary may take action through a declaration of emergency on any item scheduled on the agenda of the canceled meeting. Further, the secretary may take any action by a declaration of emergency, necessary for the protection of the fish and wildlife resources. Such actions may remain in effect until seven days following the next commission meeting.

Amended by Acts 1974, No. 717, §1; Acts 1975, No. 81, §1; Acts 2004, No. 297, §1; Acts 2006, No. 205, §1, eff. June 2, 2006.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:497 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 497
Saltwater shrimp seasons; bait shrimp
Status: in_force

A.(1) No person shall take, have in possession, sell, or offer for sale any saltwater shrimp taken from state waters except in open seasons.

(2) The open seasons for all or part of the state waters shall be fixed by the commission. The commission, through the secretary, shall close the season based on biological and technical data. In addition, notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 56:499, when opening a special shrimp season or extending a regular shrimp season, the commission shall have the authority for the duration of that season or extension to increase the minimum mesh size provided in R.S. 56:499 for any trawl, skimmer net, or butterfly net.

(3) The commission shall have the authority to open or close outside waters by zone each year as it deems appropriate upon inspection of and based upon technical and biological data which indicates that marketable shrimp, in sufficient quantities, are available for harvest.

(4) The commission shall conduct a public hearing prior to determining whether or not to open or close a regular or special season. The commission shall give at least three days notice prior to the hearing on the decision to open or close a regular shrimp season and at least three days notice prior to the hearing on the decision to open or close a special season. Notice shall consist of a news release to the news media. The notice shall set forth the agenda and the date, time, and place for each hearing. At the public hearing, the commission shall adopt written reasons for its decision and such reasons shall specify the biological and technical data on which the decision is based and the market standard by which the data is evaluated. Such decision shall not be effective until at least seventy-two hours after the decision is made.

(5) The closing of outside waters to shrimping shall not be construed as prohibiting or otherwise affecting the trawling for finfish or underutilized species as defined in R.S. 56:8.

(6) The commission shall also have the right to set special shrimp seasons for all or part of the state waters. Opening of the seasons shall be based upon the best biological and technical data presented to the commission which indicates that marketable shrimp, in sufficient quantities, are available for harvest.

(7) The commission shall fix no less than two open seasons each calendar year for all inside waters by zone, based upon biological and technical data which indicates that marketable shrimp, in sufficient quantities, are available for harvest.

(8) No open season date shall begin on a Sunday.

(9) The commission may delegate to the secretary the powers, duties, and authority provided by this Section.

B.(1) Saltwater shrimp legally taken and processed within the state may be bought and sold at any time. Saltwater shrimp in their fresh state legally taken during the open seasons in state waters may be possessed for five days following the last day of each open season.

(2) Bait shrimp may be taken in state waters during the closed seasons, but only in cast nets, dip nets with a diameter not to exceed three feet operated only by hand without any mechanical device or pulley whatsoever, bait traps, and bait seines in compliance with R.S. 56:323 and 500(B). No bait shrimp may be taken in state waters during closed seasons with the use of a butterfly net, paupier, skimmer net, trawl, night trawl, or beam trawl except with the special bait dealers permit as provided by the commission pursuant to Subsection C of this Section.

C.(1) The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is authorized to adopt rules and regulations under the Administrative Procedure Act to provide for an annual special bait dealers permit and to allow the taking of live bait shrimp and live croaker by qualified permit holders during the closed shrimp season. The fee for such permit shall be one hundred ten dollars per year. All revenues received through the sale of such permits shall be used for the administration of the bait dealer program.

(2) Violations of the bait shrimp regulations shall constitute a class four violation. In addition, the permittee shall forfeit the permit and any bond posted for the permit and shall be ineligible for a bait shrimp permit for one year from the date of conviction.

D. Violation of any of the provisions of this Section shall constitute a class four violation.

Amended by Acts 1954, No. 348, §1; Acts 1958, No. 53, §4; Acts 1962, No. 452, §3; Acts 1964, No. 490, §1; Acts 1966, No. 54, §1; Acts 1968, Ex.Sess., No. 53, §1; Acts 1969, No. 60, §1; Acts 1970, No. 504, §1; Acts 1974, No. 490, §1; Acts 1976, No. 238, §1; Acts 1984, No. 300, §1; Acts 1984, No. 692, §1; Acts 1984, No. 120, §1; Acts 1986, No. 570, §1; Acts 1987, No. 576, §1; H.C.R. No. 136, 1987 R.S.; Acts 1988, No. 893, §1, eff. July 21, 1988; Acts 1989, No. 510, §1; Acts 1992, No. 528, §1, eff. June 29, 1992; Acts 1995, No. 1080, §1; Acts 1997, No. 277, §1; Acts 1997, No. 871, §1, eff. May 15, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 185, §1; Acts 2001, No. 83, §1, eff. May 24, 2001; Acts 2004, No. 162, §1; Acts 2009, No. 115, §1; Acts 2012, No. 83, §1; Acts 2024, No. 61, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:305.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 305.1
License year; place of purchase; purchase period
Status: in_force

A. A commercial gear license is valid for one year, beginning on January first of each calendar year and expiring on December thirty-first of the same calendar year.

B. A commercial gear license may be purchased at any time of the year for the current license year and from November fifteenth for the immediately following license year.

C. Commercial gear licenses shall be issued only by the department during normal working hours and may be purchased in person at any department district office, at the department's Baton Rouge office, or at any other location designated by the department.

Acts 1986, No. 904, §1; Acts 2021, No. 356, §2, eff. Nov. 15, 2021.

NOTE: SEE ACTS 1986, NO. 904, §5.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:31.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 31.1
Revocation of license; denial of license; penalties
Status: in_force

A. Failure to pay all amounts assessed under this Part shall result in the immediate revocation of all recreational hunting and fishing licenses held by the offender. Such revocation of the offender's licenses and privileges shall continue, and no new recreational hunting or fishing licenses shall be issued during the period of time as any assessed amounts remain unpaid.

B. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any person who has timely filed a suspensive appeal of the final judgment and during the pendency of the appeal.

C. Any person who purchases or obtains a recreational hunting or fishing license of any type or who engages in an activity which would otherwise require the purchase of a recreational hunting or fishing license during the period of revocation of his licenses and privileges pursuant to this Part shall be guilty of a class three violation, R.S. 56:33.

Acts 1990, No. 899, §1; Acts 1991, No. 885, §1; Acts 1992, No. 853, §1; Acts 1993, No. 80, §1; Acts 2001, No. 804, §2; Acts 2001, No. 805, §1; Acts 2004, No. 174, §1; Acts 2004, No. 253, §2, eff. July 1, 2006.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:326 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 326
Size and possession limits; commercial fish
Status: in_force

A. The following are the legal size limits on commercial fish. No person shall take or possess these fish under or over the prescribed sizes for commercial purposes. Fish of the prescribed legal size may be taken, had in possession, or sold in unlimited quantities, provided there is compliance with all other requirements of the law. Any commercial fish under the minimum prescribed size or over the maximum prescribed size shall be returned immediately to the waters from which taken without avoidable injury. No person shall sell, purchase, barter, trade, or exchange, or attempt to sell, purchase, barter, trade, or exchange, any commercial species under the minimum prescribed size or over a maximum prescribed size or creel limit. Any commercial species upon which there is no specific size limit may be taken in any size or quantity. Notwithstanding any other provisions stated above, commercial fish under the legal size may be taken from privately owned ponds, impoundments, or waters by the owner thereof or his authorized representative and may be sold to other persons for purposes of stocking private waters, ponds, or impoundments.

(1) Hardshell crabs -- 5 inches in width as measured from point to point of the upper shell, except when held for processing as soft crabs or sold to a processor for the making of crabs. Violation of this provision constitutes a class 3 violation.

(2) Premolt crabs less than five inches in width held by a fisherman for processing as softshell crabs or sold by him to a processor for the making of softshell crabs must be identifiable as premolt crabs and must be held in a separate container marked "peelers" or "busters" while in the possession of the fisherman. Obvious signs that such crabs are in the premolt stage shall include the fact that they are no further from molting than having a white line on the back paddle fin, which is recognized by the crab industry as a premolt stage.

(3) Spotted sea trout - Fourteen inches minimum total length with the mouth closed.

(4) Repealed by Acts 1991, No. 157, §2, eff. July 2, 1991.

(5) Sheepshead--10 inches minimum total length with the mouth closed.

(6) Buffalo fish--16 inches minimum total length with the mouth closed.

(7) Large species of freshwater catfishes:

(a) The blue catfish, locally called Mississippi cat -- 12 inches minimum length with the mouth closed; the flathead catfish locally called yellow cat, Opelousas cat, or goujon -- 14 inches minimum length with the mouth closed;

(b) The channel catfish, locally called the white catfish, the eel catfish, or the willow catfish -- eleven inches minimum length with the mouth closed or eight inches with the collarbone off; however, the commission is authorized to suspend or reduce by resolution, the legal size limit on channel catfish in those areas of the state where biological data indicates that such a suspension or reduction in the size limit would not be detrimental to the resource.

(c) There is no size limit on any species of bullhead or small species of catfish, locally called pollywog or tadpole cat.

(8) Paddlefish (spoonbill cat)--weighing not less than 15 pounds in the rough.

(9) Gaspergou--12 inches minimum length with mouth closed.

(10) Repealed by Acts 1992, No. 256, §2, eff. July 1, 1993.

(11) Diamond back terrapin--6 inches in length measuring the plastron or under the shell.

(12)(a) Stone crab - two and three-fourths inches minimum propodus (claw) length. Whole stone crabs shall not be landed. Only legal size stone crab claws shall be put or set onto shore from a vessel.

(b) It shall be deemed a violation of this Section if more than one stone crab is possessed per each crate of blue crabs or group of blue crabs equivalent to one crate, excluding a work box.

(c) Live stone crabs may be held on board a vessel while on the water until such time as the claws are removed after which time the crabs shall be returned to the waters from which they were taken.

B.(1) However, as to all commercial fish five percent of the total number of each species in possession may be smaller than the legal limit.

(2) To determine whether the total number of crabs in possession violates this Subsection, the enforcement agent shall take a random sample of fifty crabs from each crate or group of crabs equivalent to one crate. Notwithstanding (B)(1), if more than ten percent of the crabs in that fifty crab random sample are less than the minimum size limit set by law, the entire number of crabs in that crate or group of crabs equivalent to one crate shall be considered to be in violation.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection B(1) of this Section, ten percent of the total number of channel catfish (Ictalurus punetatus), locally called the white cat, the eel cat, or the willow cat, in possession may be smaller than the legal limit.

(4) Crabs in a work box, as defined in R.S. 56:8, shall not be subject to the minimum prescribed commercial size limits for hardshell crabs while held aboard the vessel. Commercial crab fishermen shall be allowed to have in possession aboard the vessel, either one work box, if not using a grader, or two work boxes under the grader, if using a grader.

C. The commission shall have the authority to set seasons, regulate the type of gear used, and set possession limits for speckled trout and other estuarine fish in Calcasieu Lake, located in Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes, where it is clearly demonstrated that intense fishing competition exists, or if pollution levels exceed accepted standards, or if biological studies indicate the need.

D. Repealed by Acts 1991, No. 157, §2, eff. July 2, 1991.

E.(1)(a) All saltwater finfish except tuna, swordfish, and sharks possessed by a commercial fisherman shall have the head and caudal fin intact until set or put on shore or when sold. Those species of tuna which have minimum size restrictions may have the head removed so long as the carcass length without the head exceeds the minimum size requirement. Swordfish and sharks possessed by a commercial fisherman shall not be skinned until set or put on shore or when sold. No shark fin shall be possessed aboard a vessel unless naturally attached to the original shark carcass. A shark may have the head removed so long as the carcass length without the head exceeds the legal minimum size requirement, but the shark shall have all fins intact and naturally attached, including the caudal fin. All garfish caught or possessed by a commercial fisherman in the saltwater areas of the state may have the head and caudal fin removed, but shall retain a strip of skin sufficient to clearly identify the fish until set or put on shore or when sold. All saltwater finfish shall be measured in accordance with applicable law.

(b) For the purpose of consumption at sea aboard the harvesting vessel, a person may have no more than two pounds of finfish parts per person on board the vessel, provided the vessel is equipped to cook such finfish.

(c) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to bait species.

(2) The commercial taking or sale by a commercial fisherman of shark is prohibited except by special permit issued by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries at a cost of twenty-five dollars. Such permit shall be in the immediate possession of the person commercially fishing for shark. Any shark fisherman who violates a commercial shark fishery regulation shall be subject to the following sanctions:

(a) Upon the first conviction, the permittee shall have his shark permit voided and shall not be eligible for a new shark permit for a period of twelve months from the date of conviction.

(b) Upon the second conviction within a five-year period, the permittee shall have his shark permit voided and shall not be eligible for a new shark permit for a period of twenty-four months from the date of conviction.

(c) Upon the third conviction within a five-year period, the permittee shall have his shark permit voided and shall not ever be eligible for a new shark permit.

(d) The penalties provided in this Paragraph are mandatory and shall be imposed without benefit of suspension. Any commercial shark permit that is voided under the provisions of this Paragraph shall be turned over to the court and forfeited to the department.

(e) Persons convicted of harvesting or selling shark during the period of time when their permit is void or forfeit shall be guilty of a class six violation as defined in R.S. 56:36.

F.(1)(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a wholesale or retail dealer and a commercial fisherman may be subject to the penalties provided by law for the possession of undersized crabs. If the wholesale or retail dealer can provide to wildlife and fisheries agents at the time of discovery the identity of the commercial fisherman who harvested the undersized crabs and subsequently sold such crabs to the wholesale or retail dealer, the dealer shall not be subject to the penalties. The department may check unboiled crabs for violations of the undersized crab provisions of this Section.

(b) It shall be an affirmative defense for a wholesale or retail dealer charged with possessing undersized crabs, after the crabs leave the dock or while some or all of the crabs are in transport after leaving the dock, that the invoice or other written documentation possessed by the dealer reflect that the total number of undersized crabs possessed by the dealer did not exceed ten percent of the total number of crabs bought for processing and shipping.

(2) Commercial fishermen shall tag, mark, or otherwise identify any crabs that are sold, in a manner which will insure that such commercial fisherman can be identified as the person who harvested the crabs. The identification required herein shall include the commercial fisherman's name, license number, and date on which the crabs were harvested.

(3) Any commercial fisherman identified as having sold undersized crabs to a wholesale or retail dealer pursuant to this Section shall be subject to the penalties provided in R.S. 56:33.

(4) Violation of any provisions of this Subsection, except Paragraph (5) of this Subsection, constitutes a class 3 violation.

(5)(a) No person shall possess more than twice the percentage of undersize crabs allowed by law. A violation of this Subparagraph shall constitute a class four violation. Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this Subparagraph shall, in addition to any other penalties imposed in this Subpart, have his crab trap gear license suspended as provided in this Paragraph.

(b)(i) Upon conviction for violating the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, the defendant's crab trap gear license shall be voided and the defendant shall be prohibited from applying for a new license for a period of six months from the date of conviction.

(ii) Upon conviction for violating the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph for a second time within a five year period, the defendant's crab trap gear license shall be voided and the defendant shall be prohibited from applying for a new license for a period of twelve months from the date of conviction.

(iii) Upon conviction for violating the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph for a third time within a five year period, the defendant's crab trap gear license shall be voided and the defendant shall be permanently prohibited from applying for a new crab trap gear license.

(c) The penalties provided in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph are mandatory and shall be imposed without benefit of suspension. Any crab trap gear license that is voided under the provisions of this Paragraph shall be turned over to the court and forfeited to the department.

(d) No person convicted of violating the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall obtain a crab trap gear license or engage in any activity requiring a crab trap gear license during the period in which he is prohibited from applying for a new license under Items (b)(i) and (ii) of this Paragraph. A violation of this Subparagraph shall constitute a class six violation and in addition to any other penalties imposed by law, a person convicted of violating this Subparagraph shall be forever barred from applying for a crab trap gear license.

G. Violation of any provision of this Section for which no penalty has been specifically provided constitutes a class 2-B violation.

H. The possession limit for the commercial taking of southern flounder shall be ten fish for each licensed fisherman for each consecutive day on the water.

Acts 1974, No. 223, §1; Amended by Acts 1974, No. 510, §1; Acts 1981, No. 136, §1; Acts 1984, No. 295, §1, eff. July 1, 1984; Acts 1984, No. 273, §1; S.C.R. No. 36, 1984 R.S.; Acts 1985, No. 160, §1; Acts 1986, No. 613, §1; Acts 1987, No. 383, §1 §2; Acts 1987, No. 549, §1; Acts 1988, No. 330, §1; Acts 1988, No. 889, §1, eff. July 21, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 35, §1; Acts 1989, No. 239, §1, eff. June 26, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 590, §1; Acts 1989, No. 592, §1; Acts 1990, No. 368, §1; Acts 1991, No. 157, §2, eff. July 2, 1991; Acts 1991, No. 641, §1; Acts 1992, No. 256, §2, eff. July 1, 1993; Acts 1992, No. 456, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1043, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1238, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1352, §1; Acts 1999, No. 180, §1; Acts 1999, No. 183, §1; Acts 1999, No. 198, §1; Acts 1999, No. 220, §1; Acts 1999, No. 700, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1170, §1; Acts 2001, No. 150, §1; Acts 2001, No. 163, §1; Acts 2004, No. 598, §1; Acts 2010, No. 293, §1; Acts 2021, No. 241, §1; Acts 2021, No. 356, §2, eff. Nov. 15, 2021.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:1741 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 1741
Authority
Status: in_force

The secretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the governing authority of each political subdivision of the state of Louisiana are hereby authorized to cooperate and jointly participate in projects with the United States Army Corps of Engineers and any other federal agency for the purpose of the development of outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife enhancement as authorized by the Federal Water Project Recreation Act, Public Law 89-72, 1965; 1 provided, that the authority granted herein also shall extend to the development and maintenance of projects for the development of outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife enhancement, or any part thereof, which may be executed by the participating state agency or political subdivision through a third-party concessionaire agreement. The authority herein granted shall be exercised in any individual project only after the approval of the project by the governor.

Acts 1980, No. 827, §1.

1 16 U.S.C.A. §460l et seq.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:784 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 784
Reforestation projects; contracts with owners of land; notice
Status: in_force

The commission may contract with the owners of all tracts of land acquired or accepted under reforestation projects within the state for the establishment and maintenance of wildlife refuges, wildlife management areas, public hunting grounds, upland game preserves, or wildlife sanctuaries on such lands, providing that after such land has been selected and the contract entered into, notice describing the land by section, township, and range and advising that the land has been set aside as a wildlife refuge, wildlife management area, a public hunting ground, upland game preserves, or wildlife sanctuaries shall be published as provided in R.S. 56:783.

Amended by Acts 1981, No. 736, §1; Acts 1981, No. 838, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:193 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 193
Wildlife biologists; duties; qualification
Status: in_force

A. To ensure the effective protection and propagation of wild birds and game of the state, the secretary shall employ such personnel as are necessary and are funded by the legislature to carry out the provisions of this program.

B. Biologists appointed pursuant to Subsection A shall be permanent status commissioned employees of the commission, shall administer Louisiana Acres for Wildlife by supplying environmental assistance to qualified landowners or lessees on an annual basis to improve the habitat for wildlife in the state. This assistance may include, but is not limited, to providing seed packages and plant bundles for planting and educational instruction and wildlife habitat evaluation surveys to qualified landowners or lessees. This program shall include dissemination of instructional material in an endeavor to guarantee that certain land throughout the state shall be utilized for wildlife habitats.

C. The Louisiana Acres for Wildlife program shall use its resources to:

(1) Instruct and train qualified personnel as to the policies and procedures for administering the program.

(2) Supply personnel, farmers, landowners, lessees, and cooperating agencies with pertinent brochures, handouts, and other information containing management techniques and applications.

(3) Properly suggest and prepare wildlife management recommendations.

(4) Develop and maintain a close working relationship with other state and federal agencies that have similar or corresponding programs directly or indirectly affecting private land development and management.

D. To be eligible to participate in this program, a plot of land shall be at least one acre in size and be utilized as either farmland, wetland, woodland, or pasture. This program is entirely voluntary, and landowners and other participants who choose to participate in this program shall agree that plots shall be maintained and management practices on such lands shall be continued for at least one year. Land within parks and outdoor recreation areas, and public wildlife management areas, refuges, and other publicly owned lands where wildlife management has already been implemented are ineligible to participate in this program. Qualification for participation in this program shall be determined by rules and regulations promulgated by the commission not inconsistent with law.

Added by Acts 1979, No. 481, §1. Amended by Acts 1981, No. 736, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:1802 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 1802
Authorized representative
Status: in_force

The assistant secretary of the office of state parks is designated as the authorized representative of the state of Louisiana under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (16 U.S.C.A §§4601-4 to 4601-11), which position is referred to as "state liaison officer" and which federal act is hereinafter called "act", is hereby directed to utilize the plan in carrying out the authority vested in said office, it being the intention that any action taken by the state liaison officer be pursuant to and in compliance with the plan.

Acts 1980, No. 827, §2. Amended by Acts 1982, No. 329, §2, eff. July 18, 1982.
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:800 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 800
Timber management, lease, or sale
Status: in_force

The secretary shall have the authority, power, and duty to manage the timber on land owned by the state that is under the jurisdiction of the department, including but not limited to the timber on any wildlife refuge, game preserve, wildlife management area, and public hunting ground. The secretary shall have the authority and power to negotiate and enter into agreements for the management, lease, or sale of such timber with public or private persons, firms, corporations, or organizations, including the authority and power to establish the price, terms of contract, and other conditions necessary for the management, lease, or sale of such timber.

Acts 1984, No. 764, §1, eff. July 13, 1984.

{{NOTE: SEE SECTION 4 OF ACTS 1984, NO. 408 FOR A LIMITED REPEAL OF R.S. 56:800.}}
La. Rev. Stat. § 56:307.6 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 56 / Section 307.6
Common carriers
Status: in_force

Common carriers are exempted from the licensing provisions of this Section, but are required to comply with R.S. 56:307.7 below.

Acts 1986, No. 904, §1.

{{NOTE: SEE ACTS 1986, NO. 904, §5.}}