Commercial Harvesters
To take or possess shrimp, crab, oysters, or finfish in Louisiana waters or gather reptiles and/or amphibians for commercial purposes, you must have one or more of the
following licenses issued by LDWF. You also must have additional licenses and permits to harvest some species, use certain gears, and/or operate in federal waters
(see each species section for details).
If you:
You must have a/an:
Fees and notes:
Operate a commercial fishing vessel
Commercial Fisherman’s License
OR Senior Commercial Fisherman’s
License (if a resident age 70 or older)
$55 resident, $460 nonresident; senior: $20 resident (includes all gear licenses
except annual shrimp gear fee). License is personal and not transferable. It allows
you to transport and sell your catch to any licensed wholesale/retail seafood
dealer in Louisiana. If you transport your catch out of state, sell to a retail seafood
dealer, restaurant, or retail grocer, or purchase fish for resale, you must become a
licensed Wholesale/Retail Seafood Dealer. You must have a Fresh Products License
to transport and sell your catch to a consumer within in the state. See below.
Gather reptiles and amphibians for
sale
Reptile and Amphibian Collector
License
$25 resident/$10 resident under age 16, $200 nonresident
Use or possess commercial fishing
gear
Commercial Gear License
You must have a license for each piece of gear you’re using, unless otherwise
noted. See specific species section for details. Gear licenses are temporarily
transferable between licensed commercial fishermen of the same residency status.
Nonresidents may not purchase licenses for gear that is prohibited in their home
state.
Have a vessel fishing commercially in
the saltwater areas of Louisiana
Vessel License
$15 resident, $60 nonresident; this license is specific to the individual’s vessel and
must be in the vessel owner’s name.
Applying for a License or Permit
To apply for LDWF-issued licenses, contact
225.765.2898 or visit LDWF’s
headquarters at
2000 Quail Drive in Baton Rouge, Monday through Friday, 8:00
am to 4:00 pm. You must provide proof of residency for your domiciliary state. If
you’re applying for a license in a business name, you must provide documentation
of valid federal tax ID number assigned to your business name and authorized
signature OR an occupational license.
Expired Licenses and Permits
All commercial licenses expire December 31 each year, unless otherwise noted.
Renew your license online at
la.wildlifelicense.com.
Resident License Requirements
To qualify for a resident license, you must be a Bona Fide Resident. You’re a Bona
Fide Resident if you’ve resided in the state continuously during the 12 months
immediately prior to the date you apply for any license and if you’ve established
Louisiana as your legal domicile. You must demonstrate compliance with all of
the following, as applicable:
•
If you’re registered to vote, you’re registered to vote in Louisiana
• If you’re licensed to drive a motor vehicle, you have a valid Louisiana drivers
license
• If you own a motor
vehicle located within Louisiana, you have a valid
Louisiana registration for that vehicle
• If you earn an income,
you have filed a Louisiana state income tax return
and have complied with state income tax law and regulations.
With respect to a corporation or other legal entity, a resident is incorporated or
otherwise organized under and subject to the laws of Louisiana, is domiciled in
Louisiana, and has a permanent physical location of business in Louisiana where
records are held.
Any person, corporation, or other legal entity that possesses a resident license
from any other state or country shall not qualify for a resident license in
Louisiana.
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To take or possess shrimp, crab, oysters, or finfish in Louisiana waters or gather reptiles and/or amphibians for commercial purposes, you must have one or more of the
following licenses issued by LDWF. You also must have additional licenses and permits to harvest some species, use certain gears, and/or operate in federal waters
(see each species section for details).
If you:
You must have a/an:
Fees and notes:
Operate a commercial fishing vessel
Commercial Fisherman’s License
OR Senior Commercial Fisherman’s
License (if a resident age 70 or older)
$55 resident, $460 nonresident; senior: $20 resident (includes all gear licenses
except annual shrimp gear fee). License is personal and not transferable. It allows
you to transport and sell your catch to any licensed wholesale/retail seafood
dealer in Louisiana. If you transport your catch out of state, sell to a retail seafood
dealer, restaurant, or retail grocer, or purchase fish for resale, you must become a
licensed Wholesale/Retail Seafood Dealer. You must have a Fresh Products License
to transport and sell your catch to a consumer within in the state. See below.
Gather reptiles and amphibians for
sale
Reptile and Amphibian Collector
License
$25 resident/$10 resident under age 16, $200 nonresident
Use or possess commercial fishing
gear
Commercial Gear License
You must have a license for each piece of gear you’re using, unless otherwise
noted. See specific species section for details. Gear licenses are temporarily
transferable between licensed commercial fishermen of the same residency status.
Nonresidents may not purchase licenses for gear that is prohibited in their home
state.
Have a vessel fishing commercially in
the saltwater areas of Louisiana
Vessel License
$15 resident, $60 nonresident; this license is specific to the individual’s vessel and
must be in the vessel owner’s name.
Applying for a License or Permit
To apply for LDWF-issued licenses, contact
225.765.2898 or visit LDWF’s
headquarters at
2000 Quail Drive in Baton Rouge, Monday through Friday, 8:00
am to 4:00 pm. You must provide proof of residency for your domiciliary state. If
you’re applying for a license in a business name, you must provide documentation
of valid federal tax ID number assigned to your business name and authorized
signature OR an occupational license.
Expired Licenses and Permits
All commercial licenses expire December 31 each year, unless otherwise noted.
Renew your license online at
la.wildlifelicense.com.
Resident License Requirements
To qualify for a resident license, you must be a Bona Fide Resident. You’re a Bona
Fide Resident if you’ve resided in the state continuously during the 12 months
immediately prior to the date you apply for any license and if you’ve established
Louisiana as your legal domicile. You must demonstrate compliance with all of
the following, as applicable:
•
If you’re registered to vote, you’re registered to vote in Louisiana
• If you’re licensed to drive a motor vehicle, you have a valid Louisiana drivers
license
• If you own a motor
vehicle located within Louisiana, you have a valid
Louisiana registration for that vehicle
• If you earn an income,
you have filed a Louisiana state income tax return
and have complied with state income tax law and regulations.
With respect to a corporation or other legal entity, a resident is incorporated or
otherwise organized under and subject to the laws of Louisiana, is domiciled in
Louisiana, and has a permanent physical location of business in Louisiana where
records are held.
Any person, corporation, or other legal entity that possesses a resident license
from any other state or country shall not qualify for a resident license in
Louisiana.
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