LA Fisheries Forward

LDWF Opens Spring Shrimp Season in a Portion of LA Inshore Waters April 30

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shrimp boats docked along the canal in Delcambre

On April 26, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission convened a special meeting to consider setting the opening of the spring shrimp season in a portion of state inshore waters.   The Commission set the opening based on information provided by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologists and public comments.   The Commission set the season as follows:

  • The portion of state inside waters from the eastern shore of South Pass of the Mississippi River westward to the western shore of Freshwater Bayou Canal to open at 6 a.m. on April 30, 2018.

LDWF biologists have monitored hydrological parameters and conducted weekly trawl samples throughout the state’s estuarine and nearshore waters since March to develop management recommendations for spring inshore opening dates. The Department provided projections of the date when a minimum of 50 percent of the inshore brown shrimp population sampled reach sizes of 100 count per pound or larger.

The Commission granted authority to the Secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to delay these opening dates if biological and technical data indicate the need to do so, and; to close any portion of Louisiana’s inside waters to protect small juvenile white shrimp if data indicate the need to do so, or enforcement problems develop.   The Secretary is further granted the authority to open any area, or re-open any previously closed area, and to open and close special shrimp seasons in any portion of state waters.

The Commission will consider the opening dates for the remaining state inshore waters for the 2018 spring shrimp season at its May 3 meeting.

Click the image above or http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/fishing/shrimp-seasons for a map detailing this opening.

For more information, contact Peyton Cagle (337) 491-2575 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.