The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will open a portion of the public oyster seed grounds in Mississippi Sound for the transplant of bedding oysters at one-half hour before sunrise on Saturday, March 24, 2018, and shall close the special season at one-half hour after sunset on April 7, 2018. The area is currently within closed Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) harvest areas 1 and 2, and not open to the harvest of market (sack) oysters. The boundaries of the transplant area are as follows:
Western boundary line:
- 30 degrees 09 minutes 40.678 seconds N latitude
- 89 degrees 30 minutes 57.011 seconds W longitude to,
- 30 degrees 07 minutes 05.000 seconds N latitude
- 89 degrees 29 minutes 56.000 seconds W longitude
Southern boundary line:
- 30 degrees 07 minutes 05.000 seconds N latitude
- 89 degrees 29 minutes 56.000 seconds W longitude to,
- 30 degrees 07 minutes 49.356 seconds N latitude
- 89 degrees 26 minutes 40.4 seconds W longitude
Eastern boundary line:
- 30 degrees 07 minutes 49.356 seconds N latitude
- 89 degrees 26 minutes 40.4 seconds W longitude following shoreline to,
- 30 degrees 08 minutes 36.000 seconds N latitude
- 89 degrees 26 minutes 28.000 seconds W longitude across to,
- 30 degrees 10 minutes 38.034 seconds N latitude
- 89 degrees 24 minutes 55.306 seconds W longitude
Northern boundary line:
- 30 degrees 10 minutes 38.034 seconds N latitude
- 89 degrees 24 minutes 55.306 seconds W longitude to,
- 30 degrees 09 minutes 57.642 seconds N latitude
- 89 degrees 27 minutes 25.143 seconds W longitude to,
- 30 degrees 09 minutes 34.635 seconds N latitude
- 89 degrees 30 minutes 39.753 seconds W longitude
- and back to,
- 30 degrees 09 minutes 40.678 seconds N latitude
- 89 degrees 30 minutes 57.011 seconds W longitude
Click image above to view a map of the transplant area.
The area will open to allow for the permitted transplant, or relay, of live oysters for bedding purposes only. Oysters may only be transplanted from the area within the public oyster seed grounds further described above which are currently closed by the LDH. All individuals found harvesting in this area must possess a valid LDH oyster transplant permit. Any individual actively harvesting oysters in the public oyster seed grounds described above shall be properly permitted for such transplant by the Department of Health in accordance with the state sanitary code.
Applications for transplant permits may be obtained between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, please contact Gordon LeBlanc or Christopher Lemaire, LDH Commercial Seafood Program at 225-342-7539 or 225-342-7540.
Harvestable quantities of oyster resources exist in these public oyster seed grounds and the opening of the Bonnet Carre’ Spillway may place those resources in imminent peril. The influx of freshwater from the spillway will decrease salinity in some areas, which may lead to oyster mortality. Allowing limited harvest of the resource prior to a possible oyster mortality event is in the best interest of the public. The purpose of this opening is to allow for the take of live oysters and excessive removal of non-living material will not be allowed.
The Wildlife and Fisheries Commission authorized the Secretary of LDWF to take emergency action to reopen areas previously closed if it is in the best interest of the resource. The special season was set at two weeks to avoid over harvest of important non-living material necessary to maintain oyster reefs in the area. LDWF will continue to evaluate the potential impacts to the resource and will consider additional openings if necessary.
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 LDH for public health concerns.
For more information, please contact Carolina Bourque at 337-373-0032 or via e-mail at [email protected] .
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us atwww.wlf.la.gov. To receive email alerts, signup at http://www.wlf.la.gov/signup.