The Louisiana Spring Shrimp Season Opens Today!
Now is the perfect time to visit LaTer Direct Seafood, find a local fisherman, and place your order ahead of time. As the season gets under way, you'll want to check the Fresh Catch messages often to find out what will be new at the dock or local seafood retailer. Don’t forget the ice chest!

Like us on Facebook, too, to find out what's new in the seafood industry and in our community.  The more you spread the word about LaTer Direct Seafood, the more support we give to local fishermen.

New Vermilion Bay Sweet 'Gumbo Pack' Debuts
Our sister site, Delcambre Direct, has created a new Vermilion Bay Sweet white shrimp pack—this time with 70/90 count quality shrimp that are the just-right size for stews, gumbos and pasta dishes. It is packaged by Gulf Crown Seafood and Gulf South Inc., and can be found at retailers in the Lafayette area (click here for list) and on CajunGrocer.com. Best of all, this product is the FIRST IN THE STATE to carry the Louisiana Certified Seafood certification label!

The Louisiana Seafood Certification Program has been established to build a brand known for fresh flavor, consistent quality and safety. It ensures that all Certified Louisiana Seafood is:
• CAUGHT in the Gulf of Mexico or Gulf Coast state waters by Louisiana licensed fishermen
• LANDED in Louisiana
• PROCESSED and packaged in Louisiana

Visit our News page for more information on the upcoming press conference by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Meet Us At The Market
LaTer Direct Seafood fishermen can be found most Saturday mornings at two local seafood & farmers markets: Lafourche Central Market and Downtown Houma Market.

This is a great way to buy fresh seafood direct from fishermen, while buying fresh local produce for your family.

Though inland waters are closed for shrimp until some time in May, shrimp and crabs are available in some locations. Many of our fishermen have crawfish, which are in season now; check our Fresh Catch messages, or like us on Facebook for fishermen updates.

Louisiana Feast of Fields: A Gastronomic Gala
TIME: Friday, April 12, 2013; reception 5:30 PM, dinner 7:00 PM
LOCATION: Burden Center, 4560 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge
DETAILS: Students from Louisiana Culinary Institute (LCI) will be preparing a five-course menu featuring local Louisiana agricultural and fishery products, including Vermilion Bay Sweet shrimp.
COST: $65; proceeds support not-for-profit LA Culinary Institute and Burden
CONTACT: LSU AgCenter; Pamela Hodson at 225-578-2939


Oyster Industry Convention
TIME: Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 9:00 AM
LOCATION: LDWF Research Lab and Sea Grant Oyster Hatchery, 195 Ludwing Annex, Grand Isle
DETAILS: The annual forum to bring the Louisiana oyster community together to discuss important issues and new technology, to make business contacts, and to socialize.
COST: $25 in advance; $50 at the door
CONTACT: LA Sea Grant; John Supan at 985-264-3239


Dulac Blessing of the Fleet
TIME: Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Holy Family Catholic Church, 6641 Grand Caillou Road, Dulac
DETAILS: At the start of each shrimping season, local priests bless the shrimp boats with holy water and pray for a bountiful season. This is followed by a parade of boats down the bayou.
COST: Free
CONTACT: Holy Family Church; 563-2325

Chauvin Blessing of the Fleet
TIME: Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Noon
LOCATION: St. Joseph Catholic Church, 5232 La. 56, Chauvin
DETAILS: At the start of each shrimping season, local priests bless the shrimp boats with holy water and pray for a bountiful season. This is followed by a parade of boats down the bayou.
COST: Free
CONTACT: St. Joseph Catholic Church; 594-5859

This one-day workshop, offered by Louisiana Sea Grant/LSU AgCenter, will provide current and prospective businesses with information on supplemental income opportunities from natural resource tourism. Targeted participants include coastal landowners, farmers, charter and guide fishermen, marina owners, and swamp tour operators.

Wednesday, March 12, 2013

8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Workshop Location:
Stella Plantation
4881 Louisiana 39
Braithwaite, LA
(504) 919-7474

http://www.stellaplantation.com/

For the full brochure, click here: coastal workshop brochure 3 13

Educational programs and events hosted by the LSU AgCenter / Louisiana Sea Grant Program

Louisiana Fisheries 2013
A Summit for the Commercial Fishing Industry
February 27-28: Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center & March 1: Houma Waterfront, 9:00 AM

The main event will be held at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center on February 27th – 28th, 2013 and the Dock Day will be held at a waterfront location in Houma on March 1st.

The theme of this year’s summit is: “Towards professionalizing the Louisiana commercial fishing industry”.

Topics to be covered at the commercial fisheries summit include: professionalizing the fishery, history of the fishery, economic status, legislative update, the oyster hatchery program, blue crab research updates, seafood promotion and marketing, sustainable seafood and certification programs, Gulf Seafood Trace program, Gulf Council updates, TEDs update, social media, micro-branding, Louisiana Direct Seafood, the Louisiana Seafood Academy, and much, much more.

Additionally, the Dock Day will feature on-board demonstrations of innovative handling and processing equipment/gear and techniques.

Contact: amatherne@agcenter.lsu.edu, 985-873-6495
Agenda topics
Register Here

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, LSU AgCenter, Louisiana SeaGrant, Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board and fisheries industry leaders, launched the Louisiana Certified Seafood Program this week. This origin-based certification program aims to build a unified brand that will attract not only consumers, but also food service and seafood distribution buyers who want to ensure they are sourcing the best tasting seafood in the world – Louisiana seafood!

“Consumers are paying more attention to their seafood choices, particularly where it’s from and how it’s sourced. People are demanding transparency in the seafood industry, so we’re giving it to them,” explained LDWF Assistant Secretary Randy Pausina. “This program is three years in the making and demonstrates our Department’s strong commitment to ensuring Louisiana’s delicious seafood will continue to be recognized as the world's finest.”

The program is a direct result of recommendations from the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force, created by Governor Jindal in 2009, to establish rules and guidelines throughout the seafood supply chain enabling the state to certify that “Louisiana Certified Seafood” is taken, landed and processed in Louisiana. 

“We encourage buying and promoting Louisiana products whether it’s in stores, farmer’s markets or restaurants. Our goal is to make sure Louisiana residents seek home grown products to keep our industry strong. People at home and abroad want our produce and seafood because the quality speaks for itself,” said LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M.

The Louisiana Seafood Certification program targets Louisiana fishermen, processors, dock owners, grocers and restaurants, to showcase and more importantly brand Louisiana seafood. Across the globe, people are familiar with “geographically-based” branding including Maine Lobster and Idaho Potatoes. In the coming years, we hope Louisiana wild-caught shrimp, oyster, crabs and finfish will be synonymous with our great state and the Louisiana Certified Seafood Brand.

“Louisiana’s seafood is recognized for its world-class taste and quality,” said DHH Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein. “This certification stamp lets consumers know they’re getting authentic Louisiana seafood that is held to the highest standards and strictest inspections in the world.”

Program goals include:

develop a NATIONALLY recognized brand that distinguishes Louisiana seafood from seafood of another origin;

certify and increase consumer confidence that branded seafood is from the Gulf of Mexico, landed, processed and packaged in Louisiana; and

promote and market all participants and seafood labeled with this logo.

“Through our current marketing efforts, chefs and consumers across the country are learning the superior taste and quality of Louisiana seafood,” said Ewell Smith, LSPMB executive director. “We are excited to work with the LDWF and other partners to bring customers the guarantee that they are purchasing authentic Louisiana seafood.” 

How to participate?

All commercially licensed fishermen automatically qualify for the program. 

This program is VOLUNTARY for docks, processors, dealers, grocers and restaurants, who can apply to receive a Louisiana Certified Seafood permit. 

Fresh Product dealers, docks, and processors must complete a brief online training. Grocers and restaurants do not need to complete the online training, but are required to complete the application. 

"Louisiana restaurants have long served the bounty of fresh seafood from the rich waters of Louisiana and the Gulf, but until now, a certification program had not been developed," said Stan Harris, President/CEO of the Louisiana Restaurant Association. "Shrimp, crab, oysters, crawfish and finfish have held prized positioning on restaurant menus and have been the ingredients for which Louisiana has become known for worldwide."

More information on training along with application forms may be found at Certified.LouisianaSeafood.com. 


Completed form can be mailed to:

Louisiana Wild Seafood Certification Program

P.O. Box 1870

Gray, LA 70359


Participants in the program may choose to be featured on the Certified Louisiana Seafood website as a provider of Louisiana Certified Seafood, in an effort to encourage additional business.

For more information, contact Rene LeBreton at 504-286-8745 or Jason Froeba at 225-765-0121.

For press inquiries contact Laura Wooderson at lwooderson@wlf.la.govor (504)430-2623.

Lafourche-Terrebonne (LaTer) Direct Seafood will unveil a new direct marketing program on Saturday, November 10, 10:30 am, at Lafourche Central Market in Raceland (4484 LA Hwy 1). Louisiana Seafood Day will showcase the new web site LaTerDirectSeafood.com, the new LaTer Direct Seafood logo and marketing materials, and additional information on how to use the site’s unique ‘Fresh Catch’ messages to connect with fishermen for fresh, local, straight-from-the-boat seafood. In addition, the statewide Louisiana Direct Seafood initiative will unveil new training videos for an online Seafood Academy.

Though the event centers on the online ‘grand openings’, Louisiana Seafood Day will provide a fun, family-friendly, learning experience. In addition to the local produce and seafood available at the Lafourche Central Market, visitors will enjoy a food tasting and cooking demonstration, refreshments, music, plus a host of activities just for kids.

“This event will offer a hands-on experience, especially for children, to learn about the environment and habitat of our seafood,” said Alan Matherne, LSU AgCenter/Louisiana Sea Grant Coastal Outreach Specialist. “This includes a giant crab trap to play in, provided by Louisiana Sea grant, educational demonstrations by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and more. We cap it all off with a giveaway drawing for a lifetime fishing license."

“LaTer Direct Seafood wants to connect local people with local fishermen,” continued Matherne. “Whether you buy it off the dock, or catch it yourself, nowhere else is fresh seafood so close at hand.”

Though official grand opening events kick off at 10:30 am, the Lafourche Central Market will be open from 8 am – noon; many of the displays and activities will be available all morning.

“Our goal is to help people access—and appreciate—the wonderful, fresh seafood available not just here in Lafourche-Terrebonne, but across the coast of Louisiana,” said Thomas Hymel, director of Louisiana Direct Seafood. “’Fresh Catch’ messages will tell you what’s new on the dock and how to place an order. You can sign up for a newsletter for the latest seafood updates, or ‘Like’ us on Facebook. The web sites offer a gateway to buy direct.”

Meet Thomas Hymel, a true champion for the Louisiana Seafood industry. Thomas lives in Southern Louisiana and has spent the last 26 years working on his passion project -- protecting fisheries, natural resources, and the people whose livelihoods depend on them. Join Thomas in Delcambre, Louisiana -- a tight knit community that he calls "The real deal."