Louisiana Economy: Fisheries and Wildlife
Statewide
The LSU AgCenter provides individuals, families, businesses, schools, industries and local governments with information aimed at improving economic conditions, general wellness and quality of life. Their 2024 Summary of Agriculture & Natural Resources tabulates the value of the state’s agricultural resources. One of the focus areas is Fisheries and Wildlife commodities.
Six commodity categories within the Fisheries and Wildlife group had a gross farm value of $818,461,993 in 2024.
The Aquaculture and Marine Fisheries categories accounted for 81.5% of the group’s gross farm value. The gross farm value for Hunting Leases was $116,581,402, representing 14.2% of the group’s overall value. Freshwater Fisheries, Wild Alligators and Honey made up the remaining portion of the group’s gross farm value.
Aquaculture
Species and products such as crawfish, catfish, alligators, oysters, tilapia, baitfish, soft-shelled crawfish and crabs, ornamental fish, baby turtles, a variety of freshwater game fish and other minor species are included in the Aquaculture commodity category.
The gross farm value for Aquaculture commodities was $399,171,474. All of the state’s region’s reported some level of activity in 2024.
The Acadia region accounted for 41.7% of the Aquaculture categories gross farm value in 2024. The Southwest region had a gross farm value of $83,702,444, or 22.3% of the category’s value. The two regions represented 64.0% of the state’s Aquaculture value.
Freshwater Fisheries
Blue catfish, buffalo, non-shad herrings, gizzard shad, and channel catfish are included in the Freshwater Fisheries commodity category. On a whole, freshwater finfish hold a lower commercial value than the Marine Fisheries category.
The gross farm value for Freshwater Fishery commodities was $18,071,824. All of the state’s region’s reported some level of activity in 2024.
The River Parishes region accounted for 42.8% of the Freshwater Fisheries category’s gross farm value in 2024. The Acadia region had a gross farm value of $5,208,989, or 28.8% of the category’s value and the Baton Rouge Core region had a gross farm value of $2,720,295, or 15.1% of the category’s value. The three regions represented 86.7% of the state’s Freshwater Fisheries value.
Marine Fisheries
The Marine Fisheries commodity category contains 54 different species, including black drum, red snapper, blacktip shark, striped mullet, sheepshead and king mackerel.
The gross farm value for Marine Fishery commodities was $266,196,006. Six of the state’s nine regions reported some level of activity in 2024.
The New Orleans Core region accounted for 49.6% of the Marine Fisheries category’s gross farm value in 2024. The River Parishes region had a gross farm value of $60,934,690, or 22.9% of the category’s value and the Acadia region had a gross farm value of $60,767,962, or 22.8% of the category’s value. The three regions represented 95.3% of the state’s Marine Fisheries value.
Hunting Leases
The number of producers who leased land in the state during the 2023–2024 hunting season was estimated at 5,188, up from 4,752 reported during the 2022–2023 hunting season. The 2023–2024 estimate consists of 3,624 individuals who leased their land for upland game hunting (primarily white-tailed deer and wild turkey) and 1,564 individuals who leased their land for waterfowl hunting.
The gross farm value for Hunting Lease commodities was $116,581,405. All of the state’s regions reported some level of activity in 2024.
The Northwest region accounted for 20.8% of the Hunting Leases category’s gross farm value in 2024.
Wild Alligators
The gross farm value for Wild Alligator commodities was $6,723,643. All of the state’s regions reported some level of activity in 2024.
The River Parishes region accounted for 44.3% of the Wild Alligators category’s gross farm value in 2024. The Acadia region had a gross farm value of $1,174,257, or 17.5% of the category’s value and the Southwest region had a gross farm value of $896,202, or 13.3% of the category’s value. The three regions represented 75.1% of the state’s Wild Alligator value.
Honey
In 2024, the total number of hives were estimated at 36,485, up from 31,460 in 2022.
The gross farm value for Honey commodities was $6,105,726. All of the state’s regions reported some level of activity in 2024.
The Acadia region accounted for 35.9% of the Honey category’s gross farm value in 2024. The Central region had a gross farm value of $1,727,133, or 28.3% of the category’s value and the Southwest region had a gross farm value of $1,235,360, or 20.2% of the category’s value. The three regions represented 84.4% of the state’s Honey value.
Regional Breakdowns
Acadia
Aquaculture commodities accounted represented $156,528,501, or 63.5%, of the gross farm value in Fisheries and Wildlife for the Acadia region.
Baton Rouge Core
Hunting Lease commodities accounted represented $8,532,566, or 52.9%, of the gross farm value in Fisheries and Wildlife for the Baton Rouge Core region.
Central
Aquaculture commodities represented $23,119,069, or 55.6%, of the gross farm value in Fisheries and Wildlife for the Central region.
New Orleans Core
Marine Fisheries commodities represented $132,029,907, or 82.9%, of the gross farm value in Fisheries and Wildlife for the New Orleans Core region.
North Shore
Aquaculture commodities represented $25,858,411, or 55.9%, of the gross farm value in Fisheries and Wildlife for the North Shore region.
Northeast
Aquaculture commodities represented $23,804,126, or 68.0%, of the gross farm value in Fisheries and Wildlife for the Northeast region.
Northwest
Hunting Lease commodities represented $24,210,225, or 96.6%, of the gross farm value in Fisheries and Wildlife for the Northwest region.
River Parishes
Marine Fisheries commodities represented $60,934,690, or 55.3%, of the gross farm value in Fisheries and Wildlife for the River Parishes region.
Southwest
Aquaculture commodities represented $83,702,444, or 76.4%, of the gross farm value in Fisheries and Wildlife for the Southwest region.
