Fall
Inshore Shrimp Season Extended in Portion of Zone 1
and to Close in Zones 2 and 3 on Dec. 20
Posted:
12/9/05
The Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has extended the
fall inshore shrimp season in that portion of Shrimp Management
Zone 1 extending north of the south shore of the Mississippi
River Gulf Outlet, including Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Borgne
until further notice.
The department
is also reminding shrimpers that the fall shrimp season in
the remainder of Zone 1 and all of Zones 2 and 3 will close
Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005 at official sunset except in 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 until 6 a.m., March 31, 2006.
Current LDWF trip
ticket data has indicated that significant quantities of marketable
size shrimp remain in those waters affected by the season
extension and this action should provide shrimpers with additional
economic opportunities without adverse impacts to the shrimp
resource.
Shrimpers are also
reminded of the statutory provision that removes the 100 count
per pound minimum possession size on white shrimp taken or
possessed between Oct. 15 and through the third Monday in
December of each year. Following Dec. 19, the minimum possession
limit of 100 count per pound on white shrimp taken or possessed
onboard a vessel will become effective and the minimum count
size will be strictly enforced.
According
to preliminary LDWF commercial landings statistics, Louisiana
shrimp landings through September totaled approximately 68.2
million pounds (all species combined/heads-off weight). Following
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, sampling conducted by LDWF Marine
Fisheries Division biologists have indicated the presence
of high white shrimp population levels throughout many of
the state's estuarine basins. Additionally, salinity increases
resulting from low river stages and rainfall levels have provided
these shrimp with greater utilization of habitats found in
the upper reaches of these estuaries. However, due to high
fuel prices and low shrimp dockside values in combination
with the devastating hurricane impacts sustained by the commercial
shrimp industry, fishing effort levels have significantly
declined and landings remain approximately 25 million pounds
below levels reported at this time last year.
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