Activities on Public Oyster Areas and Oyster Lease Areas

Public Oyster Areas include Public Oyster Seed Grounds, Public Oyster Seed Reservations, and Public Oyster Tonging Areas (Sabine Lake). Before a Coastal Use Permit (CUP) will be issued for activities affecting currently productive public oyster areas, the applicant must provide a water bottom assessment to LDWF and LDWF must approve the assessment. Compensation for water bottom impacts will be assessed by LDWF and will be paid by the permit holder as per guidelines described below.

Before a Coastal Use Permit (CUP) will be issued for activities affecting an oyster lease, the applicant must provide notice to the oyster lessee and an oyster assessment to LDWF.

LDWF - Public Oyster Seed Ground Sampling Protocol

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries requires a water bottom assessment for all projects occurring on Public Oyster Seed Grounds, Public Oyster Seed Reservations, and Public Oyster Tonging Areas (Sabine Lake). This assessment must be submitted and approved by LDWF prior to CUP issuance for projects affecting the currently productive public oyster seed ground areas. This assessment must be submitted to LDWF prior to commencement of the permitted activity for projects affecting the currently unproductive public oyster seed ground areas. The official sampling protocol for the water bottom assessment can be found by clicking on the link above. Additional information can be obtained by calling (225) 765-2370.

A map of the Public Seed Grounds may be accessed by clicking on the link below. This map is produced by DNR from data supplied by the LDWF and is not meant to be an official representation of the LDWF properties. For official inquiries, the LDWF should be consulted.
http://sonris-gis.dnr.state.la.us/website/sonris/

LDWF – Water Bottom Compensation Rate Schedule

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries requires that impacts to the water bottoms of the Public Oyster Areas associated with construction activities be compensated. Compensation may be in the form of replacing impacted habitat using oyster cultch material (limestone, crushed concrete, oyster shell, etc.) or by making a payment directly to the Public Oyster Seed Ground Development Account. Additional information can be found by clicking on the link above or by calling (225) 765-2370.

LDWF – Oyster Lessee Notification Requirement

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries requires that the lessee of an oyster lease must be notified about a projects occurring on water bottoms under lease. Notification zones can be found by clicking on the link above. The location of leases, and the name and contact information of the lessee can be obtained by contacting the LDWF Oyster Lease Survey Section at (504) 568-5680 or visiting http://oysterweb.dnr.state.la.us/oyster/default.htm.

A graphical representation of the oyster leases may be accessed by clicking on the link below. This map is produced by USGS for DNR from data supplied by the LDWF and is not meant to be an official representation of the LDWF managed properties. For official inquiries, the LDWF should be consulted.
http://sonris-gis.dnr.state.la.us/website/sonris/

LDWF – Oyster Lease Assessment Requirement

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries requires a water bottom assessment for all projects occurring on oyster leases. The suggested protocol for the water bottom assessment can be found by clicking on the link above. Additional information can be obtained by calling (225) 765-2367.

LDWF – Standard LDWF Provisions for CUPs in Currently Unproductive Public Oyster Seed Grounds

LDWF – Standard Conditions for Oyster Leasing Area

DNR – DWF Memorandum of Understanding