OYSTER SEASON TO CLOSE EARLY IN SELECTED PORTIONS OF THE PUBLIC OYSTER SEED GROUNDS

Release Date: 02/12/2009

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Robert J. Barham issued an emergency order to close the 2008-09-oyster season in selected portions of the public oyster seed grounds at one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, March 14, 2009. 

The public oyster areas to close on March 14 include all public oyster seed grounds east of the Mississippi River, the Hackberry Bay Public Oyster Seed Reservation, and the Little Lake Public Oyster Seed Ground. 

The season was previously set by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to remain open until April 30, 2009, but the commission gave authority for an early closure to the LDWF Secretary in order to protect and conserve the public oyster resource.

The LDWF Marine Fisheries Division has monitored the health of the public oyster resource throughout the oyster season, which opened in September 2008, through biological sampling and harvest tracking.  LDWF monitoring activities have determined that the public oyster resources, especially those east of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, have sustained heavy harvest pressure and continued harvest may threaten the long-term sustainability of the remaining oyster resources. 

An early closure of these public oyster seed grounds will help protect the remaining oyster resources and help sustain that resource for the future.  This early closure is being announced in order to provide the oyster industry with as much prior notice as possible.

For more information, contact Patrick Banks at 225-765-2370 or pbanks@wlf.louisiana.gov.
2009-043