The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced that a portion of the Public Oyster Seed Grounds in Mississippi Sound and Lake Borgne shall re-open at one half hour before sunrise on Friday, April 1, 2016 and shall close at one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, April 14, 2016. This re-opening is for the purpose of conducting a permitted transplant, or relay, of live oysters for bedding purposes only from waters within the Public Oyster Seed Grounds further described in the map here which are currently classified as “closed” by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (LDHH). All individuals found harvesting in this area must possess a valid LDHH Oyster Transplant Permit.
The Secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is authorized to take emergency action to re-open Public Oyster Seed Grounds and Reservations if sufficient quantities of oysters are available, to adjust sack limits and sacking-only areas, and to take emergency action as necessary to close this area if it is found that excessive amounts of non-living reef material is present in transplant loads.
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.