Today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the reopening of state waters in the Gulf of Mexico off the beaches of Elmers and Grand Terre Islands that were previously closed due to oiling from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Waters will be open ½ hour before sunrise on December 10, 2014.
 
These waters have been closed to all commercial and recreational fishing except for recreational and charter boat angling.  The waters to re-open to all commercial and recreational fishing are as follows:

Fishermen are reminded that commercial fishing and recreational fishing except for recreational and charterboat angling remains closed within a 100-yard buffer from any shoreline in a portion of the upper Barataria Basin centered near Bay Jimmy and Bay Batiste.
LDWF is re-opening these areas to commercial fishing pursuant to agreements by state and federal officials for re-opening waters closed as a result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. These areas will also be re-opened to all recreational fishing.
LDWF will continue monitoring conditions to determine whether additional waters can be re-opened or whether additional closures are warranted. Reports of oil, tarballs or tar mats should be reported to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 and the Louisiana State Police at 1-877-925-6595.

State rules, regulations and seasons for individual saltwater species are still effective within these areas. To view current regulations click here: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/regulations

To view maps detailing these modifications and the latest updates on the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill please visit: www.wlf.louisiana.gov/oilspill

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb, or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.

For press inquiries, contact Rene LeBreton at rlebreton@wlf.la.gov or 504-286-8745.