From freshwater lakes to saltwater excursions out into the Gulf of Mexico, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in Sportsman’s Paradise.
And we here at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries – serving as stewards and protectors of the resource – take on the duty of assuring that enjoyment will thrive for generations to come.
That’s why we do so many things to keep the fishery keeping on.
Through tagging studies, fishing tournaments, habitat enhancement, fish hatcheries and much more, we’re doing everything we can to not only sustain our wonderful fishery but also include our state’s fishermen in the process.
For example, the Rigs to Reef program transfers decommissioned oil rigs into artificial reefs. Did you know that fish densities are 20 to 50 times higher near artificial reefs and a whopping 70 percent of offshore fishing trips take place around a rig or reef? That’s why preserving habitat is so important to both you and us.
Through tagging studies, anglers and the scientific community come together for the common good. Thanks in large part to our citizen scientists, more than 140,000 fish have been tagged by more than 2,000 participating anglers. Data collected from these efforts help fishery biologists evaluate the effects of environmental changes on life in Louisiana’s estuaries while also revealing important data on fish movements, habitat and population size.
We also find invaluable worth from our hatcheries program, where reared fish are used to enhance a fishery.
It’s all part of our goal to help you catch more fish and enjoy your fishing experience to the utmost degree. Now, isn’t that something we can all get behind!
