| Area/Public Ground | Season | Limit |
|---|---|---|
|
East of MS River, North of MRGO (LDH Areas 1-4)
|
Opens November 1, 2024
|
30 sacks/vessel/day * |
| Hackberry Bay Oyster Seed Reservation - Sacking |
Opens November 1, 2024 (Closes April 30, 2025) |
30 sacks/vessel/day* |
| Hackberry Bay, Little Lake, Lake Mechant, Bay Junop Oyster Seed Reservation, East of MS River, North of MRGO (LDH Areas 1-2) - Bedding |
Opens September 23, 2024 (Closes September 25, 2024) |
No more than 15% of non-living material allowed in bedding loads. |
| Vermilion/East and West Cote Blanche Bay/Atchafalaya Bay Public Oyster Seed Grounds- Bedding |
Opens September 23, 2024 (Closes May 30, 2025) |
No more than 15% of non-living material allowed in bedding loads. |
| Lake Mechant and Bay Junop Oyster Seed Reservation - Sacking |
Opens October 21, 2024 (Closes October 25, 2024) |
30 sacks/vessel/day (take and possession) |
| Vermilion/East and West Cote Blanche Bay/Atchafalaya Bay Public Oyster Seed Grounds- Sacking |
Opens October 14, 2024 (Closes May 30, 2025) |
No Possession limit |
| Sister Lake and Bay Gardene Public Oyster Seed Reservations, Lake Tambour, Lake Chien, Lake Felicity, Deep Lake, Barataria Bay, and East of MS River- South of MRGO | Closed No Season | Closed No Season |
| Calcasieu Lake (West Cove) |
Opens October 15, 2024 | 15 sacks/vessel/day (take and possession)** |
| Calcasieu Lake (East side) |
Opens January 1, 2025 | 10 sacks/vessel/day (take and possession)** |
| Little Lake Public Oyster Seed Ground | Opens October 14, 2024 (Closes April 30, 2025) | 30 sacks/vessel/day* |
|
* The possession limit shall be twice the daily limit. **No more than 15 sacks of oysters per vessel per day for the entire Calcasieu Lake. No scrapers: Tong or hand only |
||
Oyster Season
New Regulations for the 2024-2025 Oyster Season:
- Every vessel harvesting oysters from the Public Oyster Areas for oyster resource shall report harvest information to the LDWF before 9 p.m. each day fished.
- Vessels shall provide the following information: Captain’s name, oyster harvester number, vessel number, the total number of sacks harvested that day, total barrels of seed removed, and the LDH Harvest area fished.
- Electronic Reporting will be done through the e-Reporting application via smart phone. The eReporting app is supported by both iOS and Android. Fishermen will need to download the app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store then create an account using an email. The registration page requires name, commercial fishing license number and type of license to register. Once the account is created, the fisherman will add their vessels..
For more information, contact Robert Caballero at rcaballero@wlf.la.gov or 504.286.4054
Commercial and recreational oyster seasons are the same. No one may harvest oysters at night (one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise), from public oyster areas nor private leases.
LDWF manages approximately 1.7 million acres of public oyster areas in Louisiana. Every July, LDWF takes a census of the oysters found on public areas. Biologists collect and record data from hundreds of oyster samples across Louisiana’s coast. They use these data to estimate the oyster stock size and recommend when the annual season for public oyster areas should be. This season typically runs from the first Wednesday following Labor Day in September through April 30 of the following year. However, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission can open and close the season when biological data indicate a need. For the most current status, see the information below.
The Louisiana Department of Health may periodically close areas for public health concerns. Check LDH’s website or call 800.256.2775 for more information.
The owner of a private oyster lease or his duly-authorized agents may fish oysters on the lease throughout the year, unless it is closed by LDH.
Current Status of Public Oyster Areas
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will close oyster harvest in a portion of the public oyster seed grounds east of the Mississippi River, north of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, and within the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Shellfish Harvest Area 3, one half-hour after sunset on Sunday, December 22, 2024, as follows:
That portion of the public oyster seed grounds within the Drum Bay area, St. Bernard Parish, north of a line of latitude at 29 degrees 51 minutes 58 seconds N, and west of a line of longitude at 89 degrees 14 minutes 08 seconds W.
MAPS
For more information, contact Robert Caballero at rcaballero@wlf.la.gov or 504-286-4054.