[StBernard] LDWF REOPENS ALL STATE WATERS TO RECREATIONAL ANGLING

[Westley Annis]

LDWF REOPENS ALL STATE WATERS TO RECREATIONAL ANGLING

 

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission ordered an immediate opening
of all state inshore and offshore territorial waters to recreational
angling, including charter boat angling Friday.  The areas opened by the
commission do not include the recreational harvest of shrimp, crabs or
oysters.  

 

Prior to Friday's action, approximately 862 square miles or 11 percent of
saltwater areas of the state remained closed to all recreational fishing due
to the impacts from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  

 

LDWF, in coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is
continuing to provide additional fish tissue samples for sensory testing and
chemical analysis in preparation for re-opening areas currently closed to
commercial crabbing and commercial fishing. 

 

With Friday's action, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission also
voted to submit a letter, urging the FDA and NOAA to expedite the required
testing to re-open commercial fishing areas previously closed due to
confirmed reports of oil.

 

LDWF guidelines for re-opening commercial fishing areas are as follows:

.       Once visible signs of oil are no longer apparent in areas that were
previously closed by LDWF to commercial fishing, LDWF will then submit an
"intent to reopen" to NOAA and the FDA

.       LDWF biologists will conduct thorough sampling of finfish, crabs and
shrimp in the proposed reopening area

.       Following the collection of the samples, biologists will immediately
transfer specimens to be tested by the FDA and NOAA for signs of chemical
contamination.  This process is expected to take between seven and ten days

.       After complete analysis the FDA and NOAA will render an opinion
regarding proposed reopening.

 

For a map detailing today's recreational openings click here.  

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/recreational-map-1.png
<http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/recreational-map-1.png>  

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/recreational-map-2.png
<http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/recreational-map-2.png>  

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/recreational-map-3.png
<http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/recreational-map-3.png>  

 

For more information, contact Laura Deslatte at ldeslatte at wlf.la.gov
<mailto:ldeslatte at wlf.la.gov>  or 225-765-2335