The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the fall shrimp season will close in a portion of state inside waters effective Monday, December 18, 2017 at official sunset.

Specifically, those waters that will close to shrimping include:

• All state inside waters from the Mississippi/Louisiana state line westward to the Louisiana/Texas state line except for the following waters located east of the Mississippi River:

◦ Chef Menteur and Rigolets Passes, Lake Borgne, Mississippi Sound, Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO), a section of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) in Orleans parish from the GIWW East Closure Sector Gate westward to the GIWW intersection with the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, and the open waters of Breton and Chandeleur Sounds as bounded by the double-rig line described in R.S. 56:495.1(A)2

All state outside waters will remain open at this time.

For a map detailing today’s actions visit: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/fishing/shrimp-seasons

Existing data do not currently support shrimping closures in additional state inside or outside waters. However, the department will continue monitoring shrimp populations in these waters.

Regulations state that the possession count on saltwater, white shrimp should average no more than 100 (whole shrimp) per pound, with the exception of October 15 through the third Monday in December, when there is no minimum count size.

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission provided the LDWF Secretary with authority to close the fall inshore shrimp season when biological and technical data indicate the need. Recent sampling conducted by the LDWF biologists indicates the average white shrimp size in the waters to be closed is smaller than the minimum possession size limit. This action, which characteristically takes place at this time of year, is designed to protect small, white shrimp and provide opportunity for these populations to over-winter and grow to larger, more marketable sizes.

For more information, contact Peyton Cagle at (337) 491-2575 extension 3017 or [email protected]gov .