Portion
of Louisiana Offshore Territorial Waters Closed to Shrimping
Posted:
1/6/06
The Louisiana
Wildlife and Fisheries Commission announced a shrimping closure
in a portion of Louisiana offshore territorial (outside) waters
at its Jan. 5, 2006 meeting. The action protects small white
shrimp currently over-wintering in these areas as well as
additional over-wintering white shrimp expected to recruit
to these waters.
The closure area includes that portion of
state outside waters, south of the Inside/Outside Shrimp Line
as described in LA R.S. 56:495, from the western shore of
Freshwater Bayou Canal at 92 degrees 18 minutes 33 seconds
west longitude to the eastern shore of the Atchafalaya River
Ship Channel at Eugene Island as delineated by the Channel
red buoy line. This closure will become effective Monday,
Jan. 9, 2006 at 6 a.m. All state outside waters east of the
Atchafalaya River Ship Channel at Eugene Island as well as
state outside waters west of Freshwater Bayou Canal will remain
open to shrimping.
According to LA R.S. 56:498.B(1), the possession
count on saltwater white shrimp shall average no more than
100 (whole shrimp) count per pound except during the time
period from Oct. 15 through the third Monday in December when
there shall be no count. Current sampling conducted by Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Marine Fisheries
Division biologists has indicated that white shrimp in this
portion of Louisiana outside waters do not average 100 count
per pound minimum legal size. This action protects small white
shrimp and provides increased opportunity for growth to a
larger more valuable size.
The commission also authorized the LDWF secretary
to close any part of remaining state outside waters if biological
and technical data indicate the need to do so and to re-open
any closed area when the closure is no longer necessary. The
secretary is also authorized to open and close special shrimp
seasons in portions of inside waters where such a season would
not detrimentally affect developing brown shrimp.
With the exception of that portion of Shrimp
Management Zone 1 extending north of the southern shore of
the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO), including Lake Pontchartrain
and Lake Borgne all inside waters remain closed to shrimping.
Those portions of Breton and Chandeleur Sounds as described
by the double-rig line (LA R.S.56:495.1.(A)2 currently open
to shrimping will close March 31, 2006 at 6 a.m.
According to LDWF trip ticket report data,
preliminary landings statistics indicate that Louisiana shrimp
landings through October, 2005 totaled approximately 79 million
pounds (all species combined/heads-off weight). Shrimp landings
remain approximately 31.8 million pounds below levels reported
through October of 2004.
The opening dates for the 2006 spring shrimp
season in inside waters will be considered at the May commission
meeting to be held at LDWF headquarters.
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