The fall inshore shrimp season will close in the remainder of Shrimp Management Zone 1 extending north of the southern shore of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO) at official sunset Jan. 14, 2010.
The shrimp season in these waters was extended following Dec. 22 due to the presence of significant quantities of marketable size shrimp. However, current sampling conducted by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Office of Fisheries biologists has indicated that white shrimp in these portions of Louisiana waters are smaller than 100 count per pound minimum legal size.
Acting upon authority provided to LDWF Secretary Robert Barham by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, this emergency action protects small white shrimp currently over-wintering in these waters and provides increased opportunity for growth to larger and more valuable sizes.
Effective with these closures, all state inside waters are closed to shrimping except for the open waters of Breton and Chandeleur Sounds as described by the double-rig line (LA R.S.56:495.1.(A)2), which shall remain open to shrimping until 6 a.m., March 31, 2010. State outside waters south of the inside/outside shrimp line westward from the western shore of Freshwater Bayou Canal at 92 degrees 18 minutes and 33 seconds west longitude and eastward from the northwest shore of Caillou Boca at 29 degrees 03 minutes and 10 seconds north latitude and 90 degrees 50 minutes and 27 seconds west longitude shall continue to remain open to shrimping.
The opening dates for the 2010 spring shrimp season in inside waters will be considered by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission at its May 6 meeting to be held at LDWF headquarters in Baton Rouge.
