The Louisiana Wildlife
and Fisheries Commission announced a shrimping closure in
a portion of Louisiana offshore territorial (outside) waters
at its Dec. 4 meeting. The action protects small white shrimp
currently over-wintering in these areas as well as additional
over-wintering white shrimp anticipated 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 U.S. Coast Guard
navigational light off the northwest shore of Caillou Boca
at 29 degrees 03 minutes 10 seconds north latitude and 90
degrees 50 minutes 27 seconds west longitude.
This closure will
become effective Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008 at official sunset.
All state outside waters east of the U.S. Coast Guard navigational
light off the northwest shore of Caillou Boca 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 Marine Fisheries Division biologists
has indicated that white shrimp in this portion of Louisiana
outside waters to be closed average smaller than 100 count
per pound. This action protects these small white shrimp and
provides increased opportunity for growth to larger more valuable
sizes.
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.
In addition, all
inside waters will close to shrimping on Dec. 16, 2008 at
official sunset with the exception of those portions of Breton
and Chandeleur Sounds as described by the double-rig line
(LA R.S.56:495.1.(A)2) which will close March 31, 2009 at
6 a.m. These closures were fixed by the commission at its
Aug. 7 meeting.
