PRESS RELEASE

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Announces Additional Openings of Inshore Areas and Territorial Sea to Recreational and Commercial Fishing

BATON ROUGE (May 14, 2010) - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Robert Barham announced the following openings to recreational and commercial fishing activities effective tomorrow, May 15, 2010, at sunrise.

Inshore Openings

• The inshore area of Zone 1 from the Mississippi border to the south pass of the Mississippi River with the exception of Breton and Chandeleur Sounds as described by the double-rig line and the area south and east of Baptiste Collette Bayou - this area is not open to shrimping;
• The inshore area from near Sandy Point in Plaquemines Parish at 89 degrees 30 minutes 12 seconds eastward to the Mississippi River, except the waters that are east and south of Red Pass channel which runs from Venice to the Gulf of Mexico.

Territorial Sea Openings

• The state's territorial seas from Point au Fer eastward to 91 degrees west longitude;
• The state's territorial seas from 89 degrees 30 minutes 12 seconds west longitude, eastward to the mouth of Red Pass at 89 degrees 28 minutes 13.4 seconds west longitude.

Please note that these areas are open to both recreational and commercial fishing except in those areas closed by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals to oyster harvesting

LDWF continues to work closely with the DHH to conduct tissue-sample analysis in an effort to assess all opportunities to resume normal fishing activities on Louisiana's Coast and guarantee a the safety of Louisiana's seafood.

All other closures remain in place.

For a map detailing these openings click here: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/news/?id=1826

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