LDWF Announces Opening of Spring Shrimp Season in Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Borgne and Mississippi Sound

PRESS RELEASE

BATON ROUGE (May 26, 2010) - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Robert Barham announced the opening of the spring shrimp season in portions of Zone 1 east of the Mississippi River effective 6 am, May 31, 2010.

Spring Inshore Shrimp Season Opening:

Pass Manchac east of the railway bridge
Lake Pontchartrain
Rigoletes Pass
Chef Menteur Pass
Lake Borgne
Mississippi Sound: the portion of Mississippi Sound north of the Biloxi Marsh and west of 89 degrees 11 minutes 15.5 seconds west longitude at Isle au Pitre

On May 6, the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission granted authority to the secretary to open the spring shrimp season in both inside and outside state waters within Shrimp Management Zone 1, based on biological date and the latest oil-spill trajectory. Field reports indicate that 50 percent or more of the brown shrimp crop in these waters will average larger than 100 count per pound.

To date, there have been no confirmed reports of oil in these areas.

All other closures issued by LDWF remain in place.

For more information on closures please call LDWF at 225.765.2800

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