The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will be making changes to the website where anglers can apply for a Recreational Offshore Landing Permit (ROLP) beginning Monday, Jan. 12, 2015.  The site may be down for up to three days during these upgrades, but all changes will be final by Friday, January 16.
 
The new changes will feature an easier process to apply for a ROLP, as well as an improved interface.   For instance, the revised site will accept fishing license purchase confirmation numbers as well as fishing license numbers when signing up for a permit for the first time.  Additionally, family or group members may be added under a single account using one e-mail and still receive separate permits as required.
 
Existing ROLP permit holders should know that all passwords will be reset, so users will be prompted to create new passwords when accessing the new site for the first time. The site will also notify applicants that usernames will all change to the e-mail address associated with the account.  Access to the site will remain unchanged at the following address www.wlf.la.gov/rolp.
 
Who Needs an ROLP?
 
Both private recreational anglers and charter captains are required to obtain this free permit (however anglers on a paid for-hire trip are exempt).   This permit requirement only applies to offshore anglers who possess tunas, billfish, swordfish, amberjacks, groupers, snappers, hinds, cobia, wahoo and dolphin.
 
Currently people under 16 who do not need a saltwater license are still required to have a ROLP, however a rule change will exempt these anglers from the ROLP permit requirement in April 2015.
 
The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.? ?For more information, please contact Jason Adriance, 504-284-2032 or jadriance@wlf.louisiana.gov.  For press release inquiries, contact Rene LeBreton, rlebreton@wlf.la.gov or 504-286-8745.