The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the 2017 spring inshore shrimp season will close on Monday, July 24 at 6 p.m. in Lake Pontchartrain, Chef Menteur and Rigolets passes, Lake Borgne, and the Louisiana portion of Mississippi Sound. With this action, all state inside waters will be closed with the exception of Breton and Chandeleur sounds.

For a map detailing these closures please click here.

All state outside waters seaward of the Inside/Outside Shrimp Line, as described in R.S. 56:495 will remain open to shrimping until further notice.

Data collected in recent weeks by LDWF biologists indicate increased quantity, distribution and percentage of small, juvenile white shrimp within these waters. The closure will protect these developing shrimp and provide opportunity for growth to larger and more marketable sizes.

LDWF would also like to remind shrimpers there is a possession count on saltwater white shrimp of 100 count (whole shrimp per pound) taken in either inside or outside (offshore) waters of Louisiana. This size restriction applies to the taking or possession of such shrimp aboard a vessel, EXCEPT from Oct. 15 through the third Monday in December, when there is no possession count on saltwater white shrimp. When more than 50 percent by weight of the saltwater shrimp taken or possessed is seabobs or brown shrimp, then the maximum allowable amount of undersized white shrimp taken or possessed should not exceed 10 percent by weight of the total saltwater shrimp taken or possessed. If compliance issues develop, remaining open areas can be closed by the Secretary of the Department.

For more information, contact Jeff Marx at (337) 373-0032 or [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.