The Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (2008) will begin selling
an oyster seed ground vessel permit on Nov. 17, 2008.
This new
permit was established as an oyster industry initiative by
Act 922 of the 2008 regular legislative session and will be
required by Jan. 1, 2009 for boats harvesting oysters for
commercial purposes from the public oyster seed grounds or
reservations, except those public areas in Calcasieu and Sabine
lakes.
The permit
will be issued in the name of the vessel owner who shall identify
the permitted vessel by the state registration number or U.S.
Coast Guard documented number. Qualifying criteria for obtaining
a permit was outlined by the new law and there are three ways
a vessel owner can qualify to purchase a permit:
1. Vessels
owners who owned a vessel that was properly licensed and had
trip-ticket recorded oyster landings between Jan. 1, 2004
and May 31, 2007.
2. Vessel
owners who purchased or constructed a vessel and licensed
that vessel between Jan. 1, 2004 and April 30, 2008, and that
vessel had trip-ticket recorded oyster landings between the
time of construction/purchase and July 1, 2008.
3. Vessel
owner who was/is constructing a vessel and that vessel is
verified as being at least 50 percent complete in its construction
by July 1, 2008.
Permits are only required for those taking oysters from the
public grounds for commercial purposes and an appeals board
is being established to hear appeals of permit applications
previously denied by the department and appeals based on hardship.
Act 922 prohibits LDWF from accepting new applications for
the oyster seed ground vessel permits after Dec. 31, 2009.
The permit is $15 for residents and $60 for non-residents.
The taking
of oysters from the public natural reefs, oyster seed grounds
or reservations without an oyster seed ground vessel permit
will result in a class two violation.
For more
information or applications, contact the licensing section
at 225-765-2898. To review notices of intent passed by the
Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission relative to this
permit, visit the LDWF Web site at www.wlf.louisiana.gov/education/commissionactions.
