2004-2005
Oyster Seasons Set
Posted:
8/6/04
Opening and closing
dates for the 2004-05 oyster season on Louisiana’s public
grounds were set at the August 5, 2004 meeting of the Louisiana
Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.
The oyster season
in the Vermilion Bay Public Oyster Seed Ground as described
in LAC 76:VII.507 and LAC 76:VII.509 will open one-half hour
before sunrise on September 8, 2004 and close one-half hour
after sunset on April 1, 2005.
The oyster season
in the Bay Gardene Public Oyster Seed Reservation will open
one-half hour before sunrise on September 15, 2004 and will
close one-half hour after sunset on April 1, 2005.
The oyster season
in the primary public seed grounds east of the Mississippi
River bordered on the north by the Louisiana/Mississippi state
line and on the south by the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet,
including that portion of Lake Borgne as described in LAC
76:VII.513, will open one-half hour before sunrise on October
1, 2004 and close one-half hour after sunset on April 30,
2005.
The oyster season
in the primary public seed grounds east of the Mississippi
River bordered on the north by the Mississippi River Gulf
Outlet and on the south by the Mississippi River and North
Pass, including the sacking-only area of the public grounds
which is generally Lake Fortuna and Lake Machias to a line
from Mozambique Point to Point Gardner to Grace Point at the
Mississippi River Gulf Outlet will open one-half hour before
sunrise on October 1, 2004 and close one-half hour after sunset
on April 1, 2005.
The oyster season
in the Bay Junop Public Oyster Seed Reservation will open
one-half hour before sunrise on October 1, 2004 and will close
one-half hour after sunset on October 10, 2004.
The oyster season
in the Lake Mechant Public Oyster Seed Grounds as described
in LAC 76:VII.517, with the exception of the 2004 cultch plant
within the following corners: 1) latitude 29 degrees 18 minutes
and 45.106 seconds north and longitude 90 degrees 56 minutes
54.820 seconds west, 2) latitude 29 degrees 18 minutes 26.090
seconds north and longitude 90 degrees 56 minutes 55.329 seconds
west, 3) latitude 29 degrees 18 minutes 25.879 seconds north
and longitude 90 degrees 56 minutes 45.090 west, and 4) latitude
29 degrees 18 minutes 44.895 seconds north and longitude 90
degrees 56 minutes 44.580 seconds west, will open one-half
hour before sunrise on October 11, 2004 and close one-half
hour after sunset on October 31, 2004.
The oyster season
for the Calcasieu Lake public oyster ground will open one-half
hour before sunrise on October 15, 2004 and will remain open
until one-half hour after sunset on April 30, 2005.
Open seasons in
all of these areas is subject to public health closures.
The following areas
will remain closed for the 2004/2005 oyster season: the Hackberry
Bay Public Oyster Seed Reservation, the Sister Lake Public
Oyster Seed Reservation, the Public Oyster Seed Grounds located
in portions of Lake Tambour, Lake Chien, Lake Felicity, Deep
Lake, and Barataria Bay (as described in LAC 76:VII.517) and
the Sabine Lake Public Oyster Tonging Area.
The commission
authorized LDWF to take emergency action to close areas if
oyster mortalities are occurring, or to delay the season or
close areas where significant spat catch has occurred with
good probability of survival, or where it is found that there
are excessive amounts of shell in seed oyster loads and the
reef is being adversely impacted, or if enforcement problems
are encountered. LDWF is also authorized to take emergency
action to reopen areas previously closed if a threat to the
resource has ended, and to open areas if significant oyster
resources are located. Public notice of any opening, delay
or closure of a season will be provided at least 72 hours
prior to such action, unless such closure is ordered by the
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals for public health
concerns.
For more
information, contact Patrick Banks at 225-765-2370 or banks_pd@wlf.state.la.us.
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