The Louisiana
Wildlife and Fisheries Commission announced a shrimping closure
in a portion of Louisiana offshore territorial (outside) waters
at its Jan. 4, 2007 meeting. The action protects small white
shrimp currently over-wintering in these areas as well as
additional over-wintering white shrimp anticipated to recruit
to these waters.
The closure
area includes that portion of state outside waters, south
of the Inside/Outside Shrimp Line as described in LA R.S.
56:495, from the western shore of Freshwater Bayou Canal at
92 degrees 18 minutes 33 seconds west longitude to the U.S.
Coast Guard navigational light off the northwest shore of
Caillou Boca at 29 degrees 03 minutes 10 seconds north latitude
and 90 degrees 50 minutes 27 seconds west longitude. This
closure will become effective Monday, Jan. 8, 2007 at 6 a.m.
All state outside waters east of the U.S. Coast Guard navigational
light off the northwest shore of Caillou Boca as well as state
outside waters west of Freshwater Bayou Canal will remain
open to shrimping.
According
to LA R.S. 56:498.B(1), the possession count on saltwater
white shrimp shall average no more than 100 (whole shrimp)
count per pound except during the time period from Oct. 15
through the third Monday in December when there shall be no
count. Current sampling conducted by Louisiana Department
of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Marine Fisheries Division
biologists has indicated that white shrimp in this portion
of Louisiana outside waters average smaller than 100 count
per pound minimum legal size. This action protects these small
white shrimp and provides increased opportunity for growth
to larger more valuable sizes.
The commission
also authorized the LDWF Secretary to close any part of remaining
state outside waters if biological and technical data indicate
the need to do so and to re-open any closed area when the
closure is no longer necessary. The secretary is also authorized
to open and close special shrimp seasons in portions of inside
waters where such a season would not detrimentally affect
developing brown shrimp.
All inside
waters currently remain closed to shrimping with the exception
of those portions of Breton and Chandeleur Sounds as described
by the double-rig line (LA R.S.56:495.1.(A)2) which will close
March 31, 2007 at 6 a.m.
