[StBernard] LDWF ANNOUNCES REOPENING OF COMMERCIAL FISHING AREAS

[Westley Annis]

LDWF ANNOUNCES REOPENING OF COMMERCIAL FISHING AREAS

Release Date: 07/29/2010

Today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) - in
coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - has ordered
an emergency reopening of commercial fishing areas that were previously
closed due to the BP oil spill. Specifically, commercial fishing will reopen
for finfish and shrimp in portions of state waters east of the Mississippi
River in Orleans, St. Tammany, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes
effective immediately today, July 29.

LDWF Secretary Robert Barham ordered these reopenings following the
completion of comprehensive testing by the FDA.  The FDA has advised that
following extensive sensory testing and analytical chemistry results, the
fish samples tested from previously closed areas are safe for consumption.

 

Details on Commercial Fishing Reopening

 

The opening includes all state waters inside east of the Mississippi River
north of the northern shore of Pass a Loutre and all state outside waters
north of 29 degrees 12 minutes 40 seconds north latitude.

 

The areas detailed below will remain closed to commercial fishing until
further notice due to continued presence of oil:

 

.         the portion of state inside and outside waters north of 29 degrees
59 minutes 30 seconds north latitude and south of the Mississippi/Louisiana
state line from the Louisiana territorial sea boundary westward to 89
degrees 15 minutes 00 seconds west longitude, and

.         the portion of state inside and outside waters north of 29 degrees
36 minutes 30 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 59 minutes 30
seconds north latitude from the Louisiana territorial sea boundary westward
to a line extending 1 mile west from the western shore of the Chandeleur
Islands, and

.         the portion of state inside waters north of 29 degrees 45 minutes
00 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 59 minutes 30 seconds
north latitude from 89 degrees 09 minutes 00 seconds west longitude westward
to 89 degrees 15 minutes 00 seconds west longitude, and

.         the portion of state inside waters north of 29 degrees 47 minutes
00 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 51 minutes 00 seconds
north latitude from 89 degrees 15 minutes 00 seconds west longitude westward
to 89 degrees 22 minutes 00 seconds west longitude.

 

These openings do not include the commercial harvest of crabs and oysters.
The FDA testing method for crabs takes significantly longer to process; as
such LDWF Secretary Barham chose a phased approach for opening commercial
fishing.  It is also important to note that the spring inshore shrimp season
remains closed except in Lake Pontchartrain, portions of Pass Manchac,
Rigoletes and Chef Menteur Passes, portions of Mississippi Sound and the
open waters of Breton and Chandeleur Sounds as described by the "double-rig"
line.

 

Click here for a map detailing the new openings.

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/pdfs/maps/oil-spill/commercial-map.pdf

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/pdfs/maps/oil-spill/commercial-map-1.pdf

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/pdfs/maps/oil-spill/commercial-map-2.pdf

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/pdfs/maps/oil-spill/commercial-map-3.pdf