LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE & FISHERIES 2013-2014 ANNUAL REPORT WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES COMMISSION Edwin “Pat” Manuel, Chairman Dan Davis, Vice Chairman Billy Broussard Ronald “Ronny” Graham Edward W. Swindell Bart R. Yakupzack LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE & FISHERIES 2013-2014 ANNUAL REPORT The charge of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is to protect, conserve and replenish the natural resources, wildlife and aquatic life of the state. Administration for fiscal year 2014-2015 BOBBY JINDAL, GOVERNOR ROBERT J. BARHAM, SECRETARY Bryan McClinton, Undersecretary Randy Pausina, Assistant Secretary Jimmy Anthony, Assistant Secretary Mark Schexnayder, Deputy Assistant Secretary DIVISION ADMINISTRATORS Scott Longman, Fisheries Kenneth Ribbeck, Wildlife Robert Love, Coastal & Nongame Resources Col. Joey Broussard, Enforcement WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES COMMISSION Edwin “Pat” Manuel, Chairman Dan Davis, Vice Chairman Billy Broussard Ronald “Ronny” Graham Edward W. Swindell Bart R. Yakupzack P.O. Box 98000 - 2000 Quail Drive - Baton Rouge, LA 70898 - 225-765-2800 - www.wlf.louisiana.gov IV 2013 - 2014 LDWF Annual RepoRt CONTENTS V. LDWF ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW VI. A WORD FROM THE SECRETARY 01. OFFICE OF SECRETARY ENFORCEMENT DIVISION.....................................................................2 07. OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & FINANCE LICENSING........................................................................................8 PROPERTY CONTROL.............................................................................8 FISCAL.....................................................................................................9 11. OFFICE OF WILDLIFE WILDLIFE DIVISION..............................................................................12 CoAstAL & nongAme Resources..................................................31 79. OFFICE OF FISHERIES This public document was published at a total cost of $???. 100 copies of this public document were published in the first printing at a cost of $???. This document was published by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge, LA to provide an account of the department's activities during the 2013-2014 fiscal year. This material was printed in accordance with the standards for printing by state agencies established pursuant to R.S. 43:31. Printing of this material was purchased in accordance with the provisions of Title 43 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes. V LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE & FISHERIES ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW Office of Secretary The Office of Secretary is administered by LDWF’s chief administrative officer, who oversees all scientific operations as organized by the Office of Wildlife and the Office of Fisheries. The Secretary also has ultimate authority over the operation of LDWF’s fiscal and business matters as administered by the Office of Management and Finance. Support operations of LDWF report directly to the Secretary. These include the Enforcement Division and LDWF’s Legal Section. ENFORCEMENT DIVISION The Law Enforcement Division is responsible for enforcing laws enacted by the Louisiana Legislature and federal laws relative to fish and wildlife resources, boating safety, waterways enforcement activities, search and rescue, and homeland security missions. LEGAL SECTION The Legal Section represents the department and the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission in all legal matters involving promulgation, enforcement and administration of the state’s fish and game laws and regulations, litigation involving department programs, daily advising and counsel, and drafting of contracts, legal documents and legislation. Office of Management & Finance The Office of Management and Finance is directed by the Undersecretary. This unit is responsible for the following functions: accounting, budget forecasting and control, strategic and operational planning, property control and fleet management, boat registration, motor and boat titling, federal grant reporting, license and permit administration and issuing, fees, taxes, and penalties collections. LICENSING The Licensing Section administers the issuance of all licenses, harvest tags and most other permits, boat and motor titles and registrations, and is responsible for the collection and deposit of related fees. PROPERTY CONTROL The Property Control Section is responsible for LDWF’s movable property program, fleet management program, and managing property, marine, general liability, aviation and vehicle insurance claims. FISCAL The Fiscal Section is responsible for all financial operations of LDWF. Office of Wildlife The Office of Wildlife consists of two divisions, Wildlife Division and Coastal & Non-game Resources Division. WILDLIFE DIVISION The Wildlife Division is responsible for the state’s wildlife conservation program and gathering biological data to properly manage wildlife resources. CoAstAL & nongAme Resources Division Conservation of coastal wildlife species and their marsh habitats, along with statewide responsibility for nongame and threatened & endangered species are the primary division responsibilities. This responsibility is addressed through major programs: Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge; White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area; White Lake Property Advisory Board; Furbearer Management; Fur Advisory Council; Minerals Management; Habitat Program, including Environmental Permitting, Scenic Streams & Rivers, and Nongame; Natural Heritage Program; Oil Spill Response; Natural Resource Damage Assessment; Alligator Program; Alligator Advisory Council; and Coastal Operations Program. Office of Fisheries The purpose of the Fisheries program is to manage living aquatic resources and their habitat, to support the fishing industry, and to provide access, opportunity and understanding of the Louisiana aquatic resources to the state’s citizens and others beneficiaries of these sustainable resources. The Office of Fisheries is comprised of six sections: Marine Fisheries, Inland Fisheries, Fish Management, Fisheries Extension, Fisheries Oversight, and Fisheries Administration. VI 2013 - 2014 LDWF Annual RepoRt A Word From the Secretary grow and introduce more youth annually to the competitive sport of target style archery. Over 800,000 customers were serviced by the Office of Management and Finance, including license sales at over 800 vendor outlets around the state. OMF additionally handled 188,000 boat registration/title transactions while maintaining over one million records on watercraft. The department also worked closely with Louisiana Public Broadcasting to produce a six-part television series - Alive! In America’s Delta - highlighting the important work performed by our field staff to restore threatened species and protect fish and game populations. The 30-minute programs were premiered and re-broadcast on LPB’s statewide network, and the episodes on whooping cranes and the Louisiana black bear were honored with national awards for excellence in nature programming. I would like to thank the anglers of our state for supporting a bill to increase the saltwater fishing license fees in our state. This fee increase has allowed LDWF to pull away from NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) in favor of the Louisiana Recreational Creel Survey (LA Creel). A program that started out as a very specific red snapper quota-monitoring pro- gram evolved into a robust recreational data collection tool. LA Creel allows the Office of Fisheries to collect better data on rec- reational saltwater fisheries harvests in Louisiana and has pro- vided more fishing days for our red snapper anglers. Fiscal year 2013-2014 was a year of notable accomplishments We have always strived to better serve our commercial fisheries and solid progress on projects important to the mission served by during my term as Secretary. The Louisiana Fisheries Forward the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). (LFF) program is a collaboration between the Office of Fisheries and Louisiana SeaGrant that will enhance the opportunities for The Enforcement Division began a new in-service agent training our commercial seafood industry. LFF is a professionalism pro- program that spreads coursework over 10 months to accommo- gram for all sectors of the state’s commercial fishing industry, date seasonal work requirements and any unforeseen events that including fishermen, dock owners, processors and distributors. require agents to be called upon as first responders. The 10 This program will provide the education and training essential for required training components add annual specialized training to the continued success of the industry and will focus on a number keep agents current on procedures and evolving tactics and of important topics, including seafood quality and safety best equipment upgrades. practices. This new program will help Louisiana’s commercial fish- ing industry gain a competitive edge in the market - developing a A 27th class of cadets graduated from LDWF’s Law Enforcement highly skilled and adaptable industry through training and out- Academy, filling 13 vacant slots in our statewide fish and game reach, for both newcomers and those looking for continuing regulations enforcement staffing. education. Office of Wildlife staff continued their efforts to manage the 1.6 These are but a few highlights of another busy year for your million acres in the Wildlife Management Area Program which Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The details that provides