Louisiana Inshore Waters to Close for Fall Shrimp Season
OutdoorHub 12.15.11
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Robert Barham announced today that the fall shrimp season will close in a majority of inshore waters on Tuesday, December 20 at sunset. The open waters of Breton and Chandeleur sounds and other areas located within Shrimp Management Zone 1, will remain open until further notice.
This closure date coincides with the December 20 closure of a portion of state outside waters approved earlier this month by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. These closures historically take place at this time of year when the temporary exemption from the white shrimp minimum possession size of 100 count per pound expires.
Current sampling conducted by LDWF biologists indicates that average white shrimp size in these waters is smaller than 100 count per pound, and this action protects these small white shrimp and provides increased opportunity for growth to larger, more valuable sizes.
Effective with this closure, shrimping will only be allowed in:
- The portion of Shrimp Management Zone 1 north of the southern shore of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO) including the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (ICWW) north of the Parish Road Bridge
- The open waters of Breton and Chandeleur sounds as described the double-rig line in R.S.56:495.1.(A)2
- State outside waters seaward of the inside/outside shrimp line east of the U.S. Coast Guard navigational light off the northwest shore of Caillou Boca at 29 degrees 03 minutes 10 seconds north latitude and 90 degrees 50 minutes 27 seconds west longitude
- State outside waters seaward of the inside/outside shrimp line west of Freshwater Bayou Canal at 92 degrees 18 minutes 33 seconds west longitude
