Today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced that portions of state outside waters will be closed to shrimping effective Monday, January 2, 2017, at official sunset.
Those waters that will close to shrimping include:
- That portion of state outside waters extending a distance of 3 nautical miles seaward of the inside/outside shrimp line as described in R.S. 56:495(A) from the northwest shore of Caillou Boca at -90 degrees 50 minutes 27 seconds west longitude westward to the western shore of Freshwater Bayou Canal at -92 degrees 18 minutes 33 seconds west longitude
The following state waters will remain open to shrimping until further notice:
- Lake Pontchartrain, Chef Menteur and Rigolets Passes, Lake Borgne, Mississippi Sound, Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO), a section of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) in Orleans parish from the GIWW East Closure Sector Gate westward to the GIWW intersection with the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, and the open waters of Breton and Chandeleur Sounds as bounded by the double-rig line described in R.S. 56:495.1(A)
- State outside waters not listed above
For a map detailing today’s actions click here.
Existing data do not currently support shrimping closures in additional state inside or outside waters. However, historic data suggest additional closures may be needed in the near future and the department will continue monitoring shrimp populations in these waters.
Regulations state that the possession count on saltwater, white shrimp should average no more than 100 (whole shrimp) per pound, with the exception of October 15 through the third Monday in December, when there is no minimum count size.
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission provided LDWF Secretary Charlie Melancon with authority to close state outside waters when biological and technical data indicate the need. Recent sampling conducted by the LDWF biologists indicates the average white shrimp size in the waters to be closed is smaller than the minimum possession size limit. This action, which characteristically takes place at this time of year, is designed to protect small, white shrimp and provide opportunity for these populations to over-winter and grow to larger, more marketable sizes.
For more information, contact Jeff Marx at (337) 373-0032 or jmarx@wlf.la.gov .