The 2007 spring
inshore shrimp season within Shrimp Management Zone 1 except
for the open waters of Breton and Chandeleur Sounds as described
by the double-rig line (LA R.S.56:495.1) will close on Monday,
July 16 at 6 p.m. Effective with this closure, all state inside
waters except for the open waters of Breton and Chandeleur
Sounds will be closed to shrimping. State territorial waters
south of the Inside/Outside shrimp line, as described in LA
R.S.56:495, will also remain open to shrimping.
Zone 1 includes
state waters from the Mississippi/Louisiana state line to
the eastern shore of South Pass of the Mississippi River.
The closure was
announced today by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
(LDWF) Secretary Bryant O. Hammett, Jr. and was based on recommendations
made by LDWF Marine Fisheries Division biologists.
The number, distribution
and percentage of small juvenile white shrimp within the area
to be closed has progressively increased in recent weeks.
Analysis of current LDWF shrimp trawl sampling data indicates
substantial population increases this week and these waters
are being closed to protect these developing shrimp.
The Louisiana Wildlife
and Fisheries Commission will consider opening dates for the
2007 fall inshore shrimp season at its next monthly meeting
scheduled for 9:30 a.m., Aug. 2 at LDWF Headquarters in Baton
Rouge.
