Louisiana Fisheries
Current NewsAbout UsBiological InfoManagement InfoHabitat Info
Louisiana Fisherman Professionalism ProgramAquaculture InfoLegal & Socio-Economic Issues
Fisheries & PeopleResources & PublicationsFisheries FAQsSearch
LSU AgCenter Louisiana Sea Grant Louisiana Fisheries Louisiana Fisheries

Home > Current News > 2005

News: 2005

Commercial Fishing for Shallow-Water Groupers in LA Waters to Close Until January 1, 2006
Posted: 10/10/05

The commercial fishery for shallow-water groupers in Louisiana waters will close at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 10, 2005, and will remain closed until the opening of the spring commercial shallow-water grouper season on Jan. 1, 2006. The shallow-water grouper assemblage includes red, black, gag, yellowfin, scamp, and yellowmouth groupers, rock hind and red hind.

The decision was made by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Dwight Landreneau, following notification by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) that the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico is closed for the commercial harvest of shallow-water groupers from 12:01 a.m. Oct. 10 until 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1, 2006, and per a request from NMFS.

Regulations for the shallow-water grouper fishery in the Gulf of Mexico include a commercial quota for red grouper and for the overall assemblage. Rules established in federal waters require that the commercial shallow-water grouper fishery will close for the remainder of the year when either the shallow-water grouper quota or red grouper quota is reached, whichever comes first. Based on reported landings, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced that it will close the shallow-water grouper
commercial fishery in federal waters off Louisiana, and requested that the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enact compatible rules. NMFS requested consistent regulations for Louisiana waters to enhance effectiveness and enforceability of regulations.

After the closure, all commercial harvest, possession, purchase, barter, trade, sale or attempts to purchase, barter, trade or sell shallow-water groupers is prohibited until 12:01 a.m., Jan. 1, 2006, the date set for the opening of the 2006 season. The prohibition on sale/purchase of shallow-water grouper during the closure does not apply to those that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to the effective date of the closure and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor provided appropriate records in accordance with R.S. 56:306.5 and 56:306.6 are properly maintained.

Back to Main

 


Louisiana Fisheries Louisiana Sea Grant LSU AgCenter