Sgt. Derek Ware explains the different parts of a boat to his Boating Education Lagniappe Day Class in Grant Parish.
More than 30 students took part in the Boater Education Lagniappe Day training event Saturday at Grant High School in Dry Prong (Grant Parish). The class was taught by Sgt. Derek Ware (at far left) and Sr. Agent Micheal Thacker (at far right).
Agent Ernest Reynolds teaching the boating education class during Boating Education Lagniappe Day in Ouachita Parish.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) certified 230 boaters statewide after its 13th annual "Boating Education Lagniappe Day" on April 27.
Boating Education Lagniappe Day was at 11 locations across the state and consisted of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) boating education course, food and drinks, giveaways, and door prizes all free of charge to the public.
The NASBLA safe boating certification is mandatory for anybody born after Jan. 1, 1984 who wants to operate a motorboat in excess of 10 horsepower.
The NASBLA approved course includes information on choosing a boat, classification, hulls, motors, legal requirements, and equipment requirements. The course also covers many navigation rules and charts, trailering, sailboats, canoeing, personal watercraft, and more. Each student received that completed the course was issued a vessel operators certification card.
To register for a future boating education class, please visit please visit https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/boater-education and click on the link for “Find A Course Near You”.
LDWF started their mandatory safe boating education program in 2003 and have since certified over 160,000 students in safe boating education classes. In the five years up to the beginning of the mandatory safe boating education program (1999-2003), Louisiana averaged 40 boating fatalities and 165 boating incidents per year. In the past five years (2019-2023), Louisiana has averaged 21 boating fatalities and 107 boating incidents per year.
Below was the list of class locations and sponsors for lagniappe day:
Caddo Parish
The Boat Shop
2410 Samford Ave.
Shreveport, LA 71103
Sponsors: Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Shreveport Coca-Cola, River Cities Machine, Ace Hardware, Tractor Supply, Walmart of Shreveport, Bacon’s Bait and Tackle
Ouachita Parish
Ludwig Marine
7423 Hwy. 165
North Monroe, LA 71203
Sponsor: T.P. Outdoors of Monroe
Grant Parish
Grant High School
17779 U.S. 167
Dry Prong, LA, 71423
Sponsor: LWAA
Lafayette Parish
LDWF Lafayette Office
200 Dulles Rd.
Lafayette, LA 70506
Sponsors: Deano’s Pizza of Lafayette, Spillway Sportsman, Cajun Outboards, Redmond Marine, Gator Tail Outboards, Walmart of Eunice and Action Specialties
Iberville Parish
Iberville Parish Library
24605 J Gerald Berret Blvd.
Plaquemine, LA, 70764
Sponsors: Fat Daddy’s Poboy and Bar-B-Q Shack, Spillway Sportsman, Cajun Outboards, Redmond Marine, Gator Tail Outboards, Walmart of Eunice and Action Specialties
Calcasieu Parish
LDWF Lake Charles Office
1025 Tom Watson Road
Lake Charles, LA 70615
Sponsor: Whitetails Unlimited Beauregard Chapter
Terrebonne Parish
Terrebonne Parish Rifle Range
Dy Milton Theriot Ct.
Houma, LA 70361
Sponsor: Walmart of Houma
Livingston Parish
Old Zion Hill Church
25844 La 442
Independence, LA 70443
Sponsor: Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office
Tangipahoa Parish
Ponchatoula Fire Department
610 E. Pine St.
Ponchatoula, LA 70454
Sponsor: Manchac Boat Club
St. Tammany Parish
Castine Center
63350 Pelican Dr.
Mandeville, LA 70448
Sponsor: Raising Cane’s
Jefferson Parish
Bayou Segnette State Park
7777 Westbank Expressway
Westwego, LA 70094
Sponsor: LWAA