Commercial licenses expire December 31 each year, unless otherwise noted. You can renew your license online, in person, or by mail.
To purchase, resell, or process seafood products, bait, reptiles, or amphibians in Louisiana, you must have one of the following licenses and/or permits issued by LDWF, unless otherwise noted.
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If you: |
You must have a/an: |
Fees and notes: |
|---|---|---|
| Buy, acquire, or handle seafood products or bait from licensed commercial fishermen or wholesale/retail seafood dealers from in or out of the state for sale or resale, including sale to consumers for personal or household use | Wholesale/Retail Seafood Dealer Business License OR Wholesale/Retail Seafood Dealer Vehicle License if selling from a vehicle | $550 resident, $2,200 nonresident. You may buy from licensed commercial fishermen, licensed wholesale/retail dealers in Louisiana and from out of state, or sell directly to consumers for personal or household use. When buying seafood products for which a permit is required (mullet, reef fish, spotted seatrout, shark, tuna, etc.), you may only buy from commercial fishermen who have the required permit. There are no restrictions on whom you may sell to. You are also licensed to transport fish. Restaurants and grocers are exempt from these license requirements if they only sell fully prepared seafood products for immediate consumption. |
| Are a licensed wholesale/retail seafood dealer exporting (or attempting to export) any crabs or crabmeat outside of Louisiana | Wholesale Out-of-State Crab Shipping License | $240 for residents and nonresidents. This license includes retailers. |
| Are a Wholesale/Retail or Retail dealer selling imported seafood must obtain an additional license. Exemption: Restaurants and retail grocers who only purchase fish or seafood, whether fresh, frozen, processed, or unprocessed, from a licensed wholesale/retail seafood dealer and only sell such fish or seafood fully prepared for immediate consumption are not required to obtain this license |
Imported Seafood License |
$300 for Residents and Non-Residents. Please contact the Licensing section at 225-765-2898 for more information on how to obtain this license. |
| Own or operate a soft shell crab shedding facility | Wholesale/Retail Seafood Dealer License | $550 resident, $2,200 nonresident. On or before the 10th of every month, you must report to LDWF how much soft shell crab you produce. See Trip Tickets or call 225.765.2399 for more details. |
| Are a restaurant or grocer selling raw oysters | Domesticated Aquatic Organism License | $25 resident, $500 nonresident |
| Sell your catch to anyone who doesn’t have a Wholesale Retail Seafood Dealer License (besides consumers) or transport your catch out of state | Wholesale/Retail Seafood Dealer License | $550 resident, $2,200 nonresident |
| Buy oysters in Louisiana from commercial fishermen for sale or resale | LDH Shellstock Dealer or Shucker-Packer Permit (plus a Wholesale/Retail Seafood Dealer License) |
LDH permit fees range from $100 to $500, depending on gross annual sales. Contact an LDH office or inspector to obtain a permit:
Oyster dealers must have and implement a written Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan. |
| Shuck oysters to sell to another dealer for resale | LDH Shucker-Packer Permit (plus a Wholesale/Retail Seafood Dealer License) | |
| Buy oysters from harvesters and ship or reship them | LDH Shellstock Shipper or Reshipper Permit (plus a Wholesale/Retail Seafood Dealer License) | |
| Buy oysters only from wholesale/retail dealers | LDH Distribution and Reshipping Permit (plus a Wholesale/Retail Seafood Dealer License) | |
| Are a seafood retailer shucking oysters for sale to the public | LDH Retail Permit (plus a Wholesale/Retail Seafood Dealer License) | |
| Are a dealer receiving reef fish, mackerel, or cobia harvested from federal waters | NOAA Fisheries Gulf and South Atlantic Dealer Permit |
You must also have a Gulf IFQ Dealer Endorsement if you’re receiving red snapper, groupers, or tilefish (unless the commercial fisherman has one). For details, contact NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office at 877.376.4877.
$220 resident, $880 nonresident. Nonresidents may instead purchase a Three-Day Reptile and Amphibian Wholesale/Retail Dealer’s License ($150; valid for three consecutive days). Licensed wholesale/retail seafood dealers are exempt from this license requirement. |
| Are a dealer receiving, buying, trading, or bartering Atlantic swordfish | NOAA Fisheries Atlantic Swordfish Dealer Permit | |
| Are a dealer receiving Atlantic shark species | NOAA Fisheries Atlantic Shark Dealer Permit | |
| Are a commercial fisherman with an Gulf IFQ allocation selling red snapper, groupers, or tilefish to a dealer without a Gulf IFQ Dealer Endorsement | NOAA Fisheries Gulf IFQ Dealer Endorsement | |
| Buy, acquire, or handle for resale or sell any native reptiles or amphibians, including those reared in captivity | Reptile and Amphibian Wholesale/Retail Dealer License | |
| Buy unprocessed alligator parts (other than hides), manufacture nonedible alligator parts into a finished product, or purchase unprocessed alligator meat or process alligator meat for wholesale or retail sale | Alligator Parts Dealer | $105; expires June 30 |
| Buy finished products made from alligator parts (other than hides) for retail sale | Alligator Parts Retailer | $10; expires June 30 |
Need Assistance?
Please contact: 225.765.2898 (Wait times may be up to 30 minutes)
Hours of Operation 8:00am-4:00pm CT