Louisiana License Statistics And Trends, 1987-2000 : Commercial Fishing, Recreational Gear, Commercial Wildlife, And Related Industries

All commercial fish and wildlife activities are licensed and/or permitted by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). So, license sales reflect the level of activity in a particular fishery. This license sales analysis extends from 1987, the year that LDWF established a new license structure for commercial fisheries, through 2000. The 1987-2000 LDWF licensing system analyzed in this report requires that each fisherman must be licensed, that each type, and in some cases, each unit of harvesting gear used be licensed, and that when used in the legally defined saltwater areas of the state, the vessel must also be licensed. Additionally, certain activities require permits. Buyers and sellers of seafood and fisheries products, alligator products, and furs must also purchase one or more dealer licenses. Thus, the analysis provides good information on trends, which mostly have downturned somewhat since 1987.