The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the daily take and possession limit of oysters will be reduced to 25 sacks on all public oyster seed grounds east of the Mississippi River and north of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO), including Lake Borgne, as well as the Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation in Terrebonne Parish, effective one half-hour before sunrise on Tuesday, November 28, 2017.

Since the season opening on November 13, 2017, harvest activities have significantly reduced oyster stocks. Continued commercial harvest at the current rate may threaten the long-term sustainability of the remaining oyster resources and reefs in these areas. Protection of the remaining oyster reef resources is in the best interest of oyster conservation for these areas.

The Commission authorized Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Jack Montoucet to take emergency action to modify daily take and possession limits, on an as-needed basis, based on biological data or if enforcement problems are encountered. The Secretary was also authorized to take emergency action to close or 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 and Hospitals for public health concerns.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.la.gov. To receive email alerts, signup at http://www.wlf.la.gov/signup.