Archive for June, 2019

Louisiana Inshore Shrimp Season Closed June 28 in State Inside Waters

LA coast map showing shrimp closures

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced the 2019 spring inshore shrimp season will close at 6 p.m. on Friday (June 28) from the Mississippi/Louisiana state line westward to the Louisiana/Texas state line except for the following waters: The open waters of the Louisiana portion of Mississippi Sound…

Read More

Understanding Louisiana’s Path to a Federal Fisheries Disaster Declaration

fishing pier on Lake Pontchartrain

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Commerce last week notifying the federal government that Louisiana’s fisheries are in a dire situation due to the extreme duration of high river levels. This year (2019) has been the wettest year on record in the Mississippi…

Read More

Un-designation of a Portion of Public Oyster Seed Grounds Finalized

oyster boats at dock

A rule to un-designate a portion of the Public Oyster Seed Grounds east of the Mississippi River has been finalized by publication in the Louisiana State Register. This action will not become effective until the first lottery phase of the oyster moratorium lifting process commences. Lifting the long-standing oyster lease…

Read More

LA Sea Grant Publishes ‘Disaster Declarations 101’

Louisiana fishing boats

In an effort to help fishermen understand a disaster declaration, the Louisiana Sea Grant Law & Policy Program has published ‘Disaster Declarations 101’.  See below, or download Disaster Declarations 101 PDF.  What does a disaster declaration mean? A disaster declaration is a tool that allows the federal government to provide…

Read More

Gov. Edwards Requests Federal Disaster Declaration for Flooded Fisheries

high water on Mississippi River in Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE, La. –Gov. John Bel Edwards announced today that he has requested a federal fisheries disaster declaration for Louisiana from the U.S. Department of Commerce following impacts of the spring flood flight on the fishing industry in Louisiana. Troubling mortality rates among oysters, declining fish catches and the financial…

Read More

LDWF preliminary findings show flooding affecting shellfish, finfish

Photo of a typical landscape of the Atchafalaya River Basin

The recent Louisiana high water events along with the opening of the Bonne Carre’ Spillway are having a noticeable effect on the state’s supply of oysters, shrimp, crab and finfish, according to preliminary assessments from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). Preliminary results from monitoring of commercial harvest…

Read More

June Council Update

fishing rods on a boat

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met last week in Destin, Florida. The following is a brief overview of what was accomplished:  Data Collection Advisory Panel The Council populated its Data Collection Advisory Panel (AP) and created its charge. The charge is “To review and evaluate data collection and…

Read More

Gulf Council recommends a new commercial trip limit for greater amberjack

greater amberjack

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council took final action on a Framework amendment that considers reducing the commercial trip limit for greater amberjack. The Council decided to reduce the trip limit to 1000 pounds gutted weight. When 75% of the annual catch target is met, the trip limit will…

Read More