A Guide on Louisiana Commercial Fishing Permits

Are you interested in starting your very own commercial fishing business? If so, you may be turning your passion for fishing into a lucrative career. While commercial fishing is hard work that calls for long hours out at sea, it can be especially rewarding for those who like to work with their hands and spend their days outside instead of stuck in an office. In the United States, with its thousands of miles of coastline, there are a number of locations that make financial sense for starting a fishing business. The coast of Louisiana, however, offers warm weather in addition to an abundance of valuable fish. If you are looking to set up shops in the bayou, it is in your best interests to learn a bit about Louisiana commercial fishing permits.

As commercial fishing is a major global industry that relies on the extraction of natural resources, it should come as no surprise that it is fairly well-regulated. Part of this regulatory approach is the issuance of fishing permits. This is done for a couple of reasons. For one, it prevents overfishing and helps to preserve our fisheries for future generations. Additionally, the fees paid for these permits can generate valuable revenue for the state of Louisiana. Read on to learn everything you need to know about fishing licenses in Louisiana.

Louisiana Commercial Fishing Permits: State Licenses

If you are planning to fish commercially in state waters, you will need to obtain a commercial license from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. For reference, state waters are everything between the shore and three nautical miles out. There are a great number of different species-specific permits available, and you may find yourself needing a processor license as well. Once you have identified the permits that you need, you can purchase them at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters, located in Baton Rouge.

There is also an easier way. By working with us at the Commercial Fishing Permits Center, you can apply for your Louisiana fishing permits online. Simply select “Louisiana” from our side navigation menu, and you will be brought to a landing page that features online applications for all available commercial licenses.

Getting Your Federal Fishing Permits

Should you find yourself fishing in federal waters, you will need to obtain permits from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Federal waters encompass the area between three and 200 nautical miles from land, and chances are good you will find yourself on these waters from time to time. The NOAA breaks out their permits by region, and for Louisiana, you will want to explore their offerings for the South.

At the Commercial Fishing Permits Center, we also make it easy to obtain your federal commercial license. You can use our streamlined web forms and SSL-encrypted web portal to securely transmit your application in just minutes. Take a moment or two to explore our website–we have online applications for all types of state and federal fishing permits. If you have any questions, please contact one of our customer service representatives today.