The recreational and commercial seasons for lane snapper in Louisiana waters will close at 12:01 a.m. on December 13, 2019, and will remain closed until January 1, 2019.

The decision was made by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Jack Montoucet, following notification by NOAA Fisheries that the Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico will close for the recreational and commercial harvest of lane snapper on December 13, 2019, and would remain closed until January 1, 2020, and per a request from NOAA Fisheries.

Data indicate that the 2019 annual catch limit of 301,000 pounds has been reached.  Compatible season regulations in state waters are preferable to provide effective rules and efficient enforcement for the fisheries, and to prevent overfishing of the species in the long term.

Effective with this closure no person shall recreationally harvest or possess lane snapper whether within or without Louisiana waters.  Additionally, no person shall commercially harvest possess, purchase, barter, trade, sell, or attempt to barter, trade, or sell lane snapper within or without Louisiana waters.  The prohibition on sale/purchase of lane snapper during the closure does not apply to those that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to the effective date of the closure and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor provided appropriate records in accordance with R.S. 56:306.5 and 56:306.6 are properly maintained.

For more information contact Jason Adriance at 504/284-2032 ([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.