The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced that the harvest of seed oysters for bedding purposes shall close in all public oyster seed grounds east of the Mississippi River and south of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO), including the Bay Gardene Public Oyster Seed Reservation, at one half hour after sunset on Friday, December 11, 2015. This public oyster area remains open for the harvest of oysters three inches in length or greater for market purposes. These public oyster seed grounds hold a limited oyster supply and harvest pressure during the oyster season, which opened on October 19, has depleted the seed oyster resource and removed excessive amounts of non-living reef material. Protection of the remaining oyster reef resources is in the long-term best interest of oyster conservation in this area.
The Commission authorized Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Secretary Robert J. Barham to take emergency action to close areas, on an as-needed basis, based on biological data or if enforcement problems are encountered. The Secretary was also authorized to take emergency action to reopen areas previously closed if the threat to the resource has ended and to open areas if substantial oyster resources are located.
Public notice of any opening, delay, or closure of a season will be provided at least 72 hours prior to such action, unless such closure is ordered by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals for public health concerns.