COMMERCIAL KING MACKEREL SEASON TO CLOSE MARCH 27

Release Date: 03/24/2009

The commercial season for king mackerel in Louisiana waters will close at noon on Friday, March 27, 2009.  The decision was made by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Robert Barham, as authorized by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC). 

At its January 2009 meeting, the LWFC gave the LDWF Secretary the authority to close the commercial season for king mackerel in Louisiana state waters when informed that the designated portion of the commercial king mackerel quota has been filled, or was projected to be filled.  Acting on information from LDWF biologists, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, Secretary Barham signed a declaration of emergency for the closure.

The closure in Louisiana state waters will be concurrent with the closure of the commercial king mackerel fishery in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico off of Louisiana. 

Each year, a commercial quota is established for Gulf group king mackerel by NMFS based on recommendations by the Gulf and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils.  That figure is then divided into allocations for various zones and fisheries.  According to the best information available, the 1.01 million pound commercial quota of king mackerel for the western zone will be harvested by March 27, 2009.

For more information, contact Harry Blanchet at 225-765-2889 or hblanchet@wlf.louisiana.gov.
2009-074