News

Commercial Gillnet Harvest of King Mackerel in Southern Zone-Federal Waters Closed

king mackerel swimming

Commercial gillnet harvest of king mackerel in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico Southern Zone closed at 12 p.m., local time, on January 28, 2021. Commercial king mackerel gillnet harvest will reopen at 6:00 a.m., (local time) on January 18, 2022. The Gulf of Mexico Southern Zone includes federal waters…

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Shrimp Season to Close in Portions of State Inshore and Outside Waters

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the 2020 fall shrimp season will close at official sunset on Sunday, January 24, in the following portions of the state inside and outside waters: Lake Pontchartrain, Chef Menteur and Rigolets Passes, Lake Borgne, Mississippi Sound, Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO), a…

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2021 Derelict Crab Trap Rodeo Event; Closures Will Remain

crab traps floating in water

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will not host its annual Derelict Crab Trap Rodeo volunteer cleanup event in 2021.  These events have taken place across coastal Louisiana since 2004, but concerns from increasing COVID-19 cases have led to the decision to cancel the event. The scheduled closures…

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Workforce Development Summit Panel Summary

Speaker addressing crowd at Summit

The commercial fishing industry in Louisiana has experienced changes within its demographics. Specifically, issues include aging of the fleet, (i.e., an increase in the average age of fishing vessels over time) and the graying of the fleet (i.e., an increase over time in the average age of fishing workers). While…

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Gulf Council Asks for Information on Gag Grouper

gag group La Fisheries Forward

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council would like to gain a better understanding of gag grouper in the Gulf of Mexico. It is seeking information from anglers and divers about what they have observed, including any “strange things” that scientists and managers may need to know. Scientists are currently…

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