The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced today that effective March 14 at 11:30p.m., commercial fishing for large coastal sharks in the aggregated large coastal and hammerhead groups (great hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, nurse shark, bull shark, lemon shark, sandbar shark, silky shark, spinner shark, and tiger shark) will close in Louisiana waters. The National Marine Fisheries Service will also close commercial fishing for large coastal sharks in the aggregated large coastal and hammerhead groups in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico on March 14.  The season will remain closed in state and federal waters until January 1, 2021, when the season is scheduled to reopen. 

Commercial fishing for blacktip sharks remains open.

During the closed season, all commercial harvest, possession, purchase, exchange, barter, trade, sale or attempt to purchase, exchange, barter, trade or sell large coastal sharks in the aggregated or hammerhead groups or their fins is prohibited. 

Vessels that have been issued or that possess a Federal Shark Research Permit may continue to operate under the conditions of that permit, which includes the presence of designated NOAA Fisheries observers aboard the vessel for the duration of the trip until the quota for the federal shark research fishery is achieved.

LDWF reminds all recreational anglers and commercial harvesters that Louisiana waters are closed for the harvest of all sharks from April through June. 

For more information, contact Jason Adriance at 504.284.2032 or jadriance@wlf.la.gov.