Shrimp season set for Wednesday closure

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State wildlife officials have ordered the last remaining open waters within the Louisiana’s three-mile limit to be closed Wednesday.

Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham announced a closure of the fall shrimp season in most state waters and a portion of waters outside the state line effective at sunset Jan. 28.

“Specifically, those waters that will close to shrimping include: Lake Pontchartrain, Chef Menteur and Rigolets Passes, Lake Borgne, Mississippi Sound, and the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet,” a statement from the secretary reads.


The portion of state outside waters extending a distance of three nautical miles seaward of the state water line is also closed, from the northwest shore of Caillou Boca west to the Atchafalaya River Ship Channel at Eugene Island.

Certain state waters will, for now, remain open.

Lake Breton and Chandeleur Sounds and waters east of Caillou Boca, along with waters west of Freshwater Bayou Canal will be open.


The descriptions above are general, however. For more specific information check the department’s website, www.ldwf.gov.

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

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission provides Barham with authority to close both the fall inshore shrimp season and shrimping in the state’s territorial sea when biological and technical data indicate the need.


“Recent sampling conducted by the LDWF Fisheries biologists indicates that average white shrimp size in those waters to be closed is smaller than the minimum possession size limit,” the department’s statement reads. “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-wintei and grow.”

Louisiana, state officials said, continues to lead the U.S. in shrimp landings. In 2013, approximately 5,300 licensed Louisiana commercial shrimpers landed 98.8 million pounds of shrimp.