Become Certified
Louisiana Seafood Certification Program Overview
In the section below you can explore a summary of the basic requirements along with instruction on how to apply to become a Louisiana Seafood Certified Program participant. Click here to review the LWSCP Overview document for an explanation for the complete program rules. The official rules can be found in Chapter 7 of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries rules and regulations (LAC 76:I.Chapter 7).
Return to Top
Participant and Product Eligibility Requirements
Wholesale/Retail Seafood Dealers:
- Must apply for and receive permit to participate in the Louisiana Seafood Certification Program and use our logo.
- Must be licensed as a Louisiana Resident Wholesale/Retail Seafood Dealer and have a facility in Louisiana.
- Must comply with state and federal reporting requirements and be up to date on trip ticket reporting.
- Must not use the Louisiana Seafood Certification label on seafood purchased from other states or countries.
- Must comply with state and federal regulations.
- Must have the legally required permits and licenses to operate their business (e.g., LA Department of Health and Hospitals permit, HAACP plan, etc.)
- Must be trained in program rules, regulations and quality control techniques (45-60 minute video certification course completion required).
Return to Top
Retail Dealers:
- Must apply for and receive permit to participate in the Louisiana Seafood certification Program and use our logo.
- Must comply with state and federal reporting requirements and be up to date on trip ticket reporting.
- **NEW** LDWF now requires supply chain verification for all retail/restaurants selling and/or serving un-packaged seafood prepared or un-prepared. For the initial applications, each retail/restaurant wanting to participate in LWSCP must provide three months of invoices showing LWSCP certified product purchases. Applications up for annual renewal will require invoices for six months out of the last 12 months showing purchases of LWSCP certified seafood.
- Must not use the Louisiana Seafood Certification label on seafood purchased from other states or countries.
- Must comply with state and federal regulations.
- Must have the legally required permits and licenses to operate their business (eg. LA Department of Health and Hospitals permit, HAACP plan, etc.).
Return to Top
Fishermen:
- Must have a current Louisiana commercial fishing license.
- Must adhere to all current state and federal commercial regulations.
Return to Top
Certified Louisiana Seafood Product Eligibility Requirements:
- All seafood must be landed in Louisiana.
- Licensed commercial fishermen must harvest the seafood.
- Product must be available upon request for inspection and DNA sampling to ensure that certification standards are being followed.
- Seafood must be harvested from wild stock from the Gulf of Mexico or Gulf Coast waters and cannot be commingled with seafood that was not harvested from wild stock from the Gulf of Mexico or other Gulf Coast waters.
- Seafood must be transferred to a Louisiana Wholesale/ Retail Seafood Dealer with a Louisiana licensed facility or retained by the commercial fishermen for sale as a Louisiana licensed Fresh Product licensee.
- Seafood must be processed and packaged in Louisiana by a Wholesale/Retail Seafood Dealer.
Product Registration:
- All seafood or seafood products that are packaged for retail sale that possess the LWSCP logo must be registered with LDWF.**Products produced, packaged, and sold exclusively at the location for retail sale are exempt from these registration requirements**
- Applications for product registration must be submitted by the person who owns the brand.
- Product registration requires the following information: brand name, brand owner, processor/packer, species contained in the product, photo or image of package containing brand and name, and three months of invoices showing LWSCP certified seafood purchased specific to the product.
- Invoices may be submitted by the packager at the time of initial application and at each renewal if the brand owner does not directly purchase seafood used in the product.
Return to Top
Online Training
- You may complete this training using any computer or smart mobile device.
- To begin the training video click here.
- Enter the required details into the Guestbook that appears. The First and Last name should be that of the person completing the training. The Applicant/Business Name, Permit Type, and LDWF/State License Number entered into the Guestbook should be identical to those submitted on your LWSCP application. Entering an email address will allow your completion certificate to be emailed to you. Click 'Submit' in order to start the training video.
- If you are submitting multiple applications, each business location applying for a permit should have someone on staff that has completed the training. If you are unsure if a separate training is required for each application, you may use the ‘contact us’ link on this website or contact LDWF call LDWF at 225-765-3980 or toll-free 855-262-1764 or email us at OversightPrograms@wlf.la.gov.
- The training video is divided into several sections, and when prompted, you must answer a series of questions about what you have viewed. The video is approximately 40 minutes long, so please allow at least 1 hour to watch the full video and to answer all questions.
Warning: Once you have started the video, if you need to stop and exit the presentation for any reason, the information previously entered may be lost. - Once you have listened to the full training video and have answered all questions correctly, you will be able to receive your Certificate. When you have reached this point, please disable the pop-up blocker (usually found under the “tools” menu) in your internet browser, and completely close the window in which the presentation is playing. Then, a separate window will open, allowing you to download your Certificate. LDWF will receive an internal confirmation that you have completed the training video, but we also recommend that you print or save a copy of the Certificate for your own records. If you entered an email address into the address book your certificate will be emailed to you as well.
Return to Top
Apply Now!
Retail Dealers (Seafood Markets, Grocers, Restaurants)
- Driver’s License
- Retail Dealer License (if selling raw product)
- DAF Scale Registration (if you sell by weight)
- DHH Permit to operate
- Invoices showing purchases of certified seafood for the previous 3 months
Wholesale Retail Dealer License:
- Driver’s License
- Wholesale Retail Dealer License
- DAF Scale Registration (if you sell by weight)
- DHH Permit to operate
Product Registration (retail packages possessing the LWSCP logo must be registered)
- Photo of the product package containing brand and name
- Invoices / trip tickets from the previous three months showing purchases of certified seafood specific to the product species and the packager listed in the registration
Click below to be redirected to our application portal and start the process of becoming certified.