Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 76 - WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
Part I - Wildlife and Fisheries Commission and Agencies Thereunder
Chapter 3 - Special Powers and Duties
Subchapter D - Wildlife Values
Section I-313 - Guidelines for Determining Fish and Wildlife Values

1. With respect to fish and shellfish species, the American Fisheries Society publishes hatchery values reflecting estimated costs involved in rearing various freshwater and saltwater fish. These figures, adjusted by the Consumer Price Index; current data relating to expenditures of both sport and commercial fishermen relating to the animal or species which, directly or indirectly, result in revenues being generated for the state; ex-vessel commercial prices, as reported by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Trip Ticket Program; estimated costs involved in the capture, purchase, transportation and release of species of fish; the current commercial retail selling price of living replacement animals; and, the current commercial selling price of meat and/or other products which are derived from the animal and traded in commerce, shall be considered by the department in formulating its recommendations concerning valuation.

2. With respect to avian species, existing information and estimated costs involved in the capture, purchase, transportation and release of species of birds; cost to purchase replacement animals from other states or jurisdictions; the costs to zoos and other zoological institutions to raise and maintain like animals; the current commercial retail selling price of meat and/or other products which are derived from the animal and traded in commerce; and, the expenditures of sportsmen and others relating to the animal or species which, directly or indirectly, result in revenue being generated for the state, shall be considered by the department in formulating its recommendations concerning valuation.

3. With respect to mammal species, estimated costs involved in the capture, purchase, transportation, and release of species of mammals; pelt values; costs to zoos and other zoological institutions to raise and maintain like animals; the current commercial retail selling price of meat and/or other products which are derived from the animal and traded in commerce; and the expenditures of sportsmen and others relating to the animal of species which, directly or indirectly, result in revenue being generated for the state, shall be considered by the department in formulating its recommendations concerning valuation.

4. With respect to reptiles and amphibian species, the estimated costs involved in the capture, purchase, transportation and release of species of reptiles and amphibians; pelt or hide values, costs to zoos and other zoological institutions to raise and maintain the animal; the current commercial retail selling price of meat and/or other products which are derived from the animal and traded in commerce; and the expenditures of hunters, trappers, and recreational sportsmen with respect to the animal or species which, directly or indirectly, result in revenues being generated for the state shall be considered by the department in formulating its recommendations concerning valuation.

5. Certain species are highly prized because of their rarity or may have a high intangible perceived value placed on the animal or species by the public. Other species have an intrinsically high value because they are threatened or endangered. In addition to the guidelines set forth above, the department shall, with respect to these rare and/or threatened and/or endangered species which might have limited commercial value but which possess a high intangible, intrinsic, aesthetic, ecological, or biological value, consider those factors when determining its recommendations with respect to valuation.

6. Not all the criteria set forth in the guidelines above will be applicable to each particular series and each criterion or factor shall be considered by the department only insofar as it is applicable to each particular species.