The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will reopen oyster harvest in the East portion of the Calcasieu Lake Public Oyster Area in Cameron Parish, at one half-hourbefore sunrise on Monday, January 21, 2019, under the following conditions:

1. The reopening of the East portion of the Calcasieu Lake Public Oyster Area shall not supersede any public health closures.
2. All oysters aboard a vessel harvesting in the East portion of the Calcasieu Lake Public Oyster Area are deemed to have been taken from East portion of the Calcasieu Lake Public Oyster Area.
3. Oyster scrapers are prohibited on vessels harvesting oysters in Calcasieu Lake.
4. The daily and possession sack limit is set at 10 sacks of oysters, per vessel.

The following area will remain closed for the entire 2018/2019 oyster season: The Long Point Cultch Plant (2017), located on the east portion of Calcasieu Lake near Long Point in Cameron Parish, within the following coordinates:

• 29 degrees 55 minutes 03.45 seconds N
  93 degrees 19 minutes 20.26 seconds W
• 29 degrees 54 minutes 55.75 seconds N
  93 degrees 19 minutes 01.32 seconds W
• 29 degrees 54 minutes 14.64 seconds N
  93 degrees 19 minutes 22.67 seconds W
• 29 degrees 54 minutes 21.22 seconds N
  93 degrees 19 minutes 40.43 seconds W
• 29 degrees 54 minutes 31.41 seconds N
  93 degrees 19 minutes 12.81 seconds W
• 29 degrees 54 minutes 45.8388 seconds N
  93 degrees 19 minutes 27.6384 seconds W

The oyster population in Calcasieu Lake is managed in two separate units (East and West Cove). Upon reassessment of the available oyster resource relative to current conditions in West Cove, it was determined that the East portion can reopen to allow additional  harvest.

To view a map of the current oyster opening areas visit http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/fishing/oyster-season .

The Commission authorized Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Secretary Jack Montoucet to take emergency action to reopen areas previously closed if the threat to the resource has ended and to open areas if substantial oyster resources are located.

Public notice of any opening, delay, or closure of a season will be provided at least 72 hours prior to such action, unless such closure is ordered by the Louisiana Department of Health for public health concerns.

For more information, contact Carolina Bourque at (337) 735-8726 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.