Opening
and closing dates for the 2008-09 oyster season on the public
oyster areas were set at the Aug. 7 meeting of the Louisiana
Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.
The 2008-09
oyster season in the primary public oyster seed grounds east
of the Mississippi River, excluding the sacking only areas
of the public grounds (described below) shall open one-half
hour before sunrise on Sept. 3, 2008 for the harvest of seed
oysters for bedding purposes only until one-half hour after
sunset on Oct. 12, 2008.
These
areas shall then re-open at one-half hour before sunrise on
Oct. 13, 2008 for the taking of both seed and market-size
oysters and shall close one half-hour after sunset on April
30, 2009.
In addition,
the sacking-only areas, which are generally Lake Fortuna and
Lake Machias to a line from Mozambique Point to Point Gardner
to Grace Point at the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, and the
sacking-only area in the American Bay area which shall be
that portion of the public grounds within Bay Long west of
a line running generally north/south from a point at 29 degrees
31 minutes 13.78 seconds N latitude, 89 degrees 34 minutes
9.79 seconds W longitude to a point at 29 degrees 29 minutes
40.67 seconds N latitude, 89 degrees 34 minutes and 8.48 seconds
W longitude shall open at one-half hour after sunrise on Oct.
13, 2008 for the taking of market-size oysters and shall close
at one-half hour after sunset on April 30, 2009. The 2007
cultch plant locations in Black Bay and Turkey Bayou within
the following coordinates shall remain closed:
Black
Bay – Plaquemines Parish
- 29
degrees 37 minutes 30 seconds N latitude
89
degrees 33 minutes 29 seconds W longitude
- 29
degrees 37 minutes 30 seconds N latitude
89
degrees 33 minutes 00 seconds W longitude
- 29
degrees 37 minutes 00 seconds N latitude
89
degrees 33 minutes 00 seconds W longitude
- 29
degrees 37 minutes 00 seconds N latitude
89
degrees 33 minutes 30 seconds W longitude
Turkey
Bayou – St. Bernard Parish
- 30
degrees 05 minutes 05.51 seconds N latitude
89
degrees 19 minutes 06.05 seconds W longitude
- 30
degrees 05 minutes 42.24 seconds N latitude
89
degrees 18 minutes 30.04 seconds W longitude
- 30
degrees 05 minutes 30.76 seconds N latitude
89
degrees 18 minutes 14.56 seconds W longitude
- 30
degrees 04 minutes 54.03 seconds N latitude
89
degrees 18 minutes 50.58 seconds W longitude
The oyster
season in the Hackberry Bay Public Oyster Seed Reservation
shall open one-half hour before sunrise on Sept. 3, 2008 for
the harvest of seed oysters for bedding purposes only until
one-half hour after sunset on Oct. 12, 2008. These areas shall
then re-open at one-half hour before sunrise on Oct. 13, 2008
for the taking of both seed and market-size oysters and shall
close one half-hour after sunset on April 30, 2009. The 2008
Hackberry Bay cultch plant within the following coordinates
shall remain closed:
- 29
degrees 25 minutes 28.80 seconds N latitude
90
degrees 01 minutes 17.11 seconds W longitude
- 29
degrees 25 minutes 37.79 seconds N latitude
90 degrees 00 minutes 55.39 seconds W longitude
- 29
degrees 25 minutes 28.61 seconds N latitude
90 degrees 00 minutes 50.44 seconds W longitude
- 29
degrees 25 minutes 19.63 seconds N latitude
90 degrees 01 minutes 12.17 seconds W longitude
The oyster
season in the Lake Felicity, Lake Chien, and Lake Mechant
Public Oyster Seed Grounds, and in the Bay Junop Public Oyster
Seed Reservation shall open one-half hour before sunrise on
Oct. 29, 2008 and shall close one-half hour after sunset on
Oct. 31, 2008.
The oyster
season in the Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation north
of the Department of Health and Hospitals’ 2007 November-February
seasonal classification line shall open one-half hour before
sunrise on Sept. 3, 2008 for the taking of seed oysters for
bedding purposes only and shall close one-half hour after
sunset on Sept. 10, 2008.
The Vermilion/East
and West Cote Blanche/Atchafalaya Bay Public Oyster Seed Grounds
shall open one-half hour before sunrise on Sept. 3, 2008 for
the harvest of seed oysters for bedding purposes only until
one-half hour after sunset on Oct. 12, 2008. These areas shall
then re-open at one-half hour before sunrise on Oct. 13, 2008
for the taking of both seed and market-size oysters and shall
close one half-hour after sunset on April 30, 2009.
The oyster
season in the Calcasieu Lake public oyster area shall open
one-half hour before sunrise on Oct. 15, 2008 and shall close
one half-hour after sunset on April 30, 2009. The sack limit
for Calcasieu Lake is set at 15 sacks per day. However, these
conservation actions shall not supercede public health closures.
The following
areas will remain closed for the 2008-09 oyster season: the
Bay Gardene Public Oyster Seed Reservation, the Barataria
Bay, Deep Lake, and Lake Tambour Public Oyster Seed Grounds,
and the Sabine Lake Public Oyster Area.
The commission
authorized Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’
Secretary Robert J. Barham 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 non-living reef material in
seed oyster loads, or if oyster resources and/or reefs are
being adversely impacted, or if enforcement problems are encountered.
The secretary was also authorized to take emergency action
to reopen areas previously closed if the threat to the resource
has ended and to open areas if substantial 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.
