[StBernard] Emergency reopening of commercial crabbing

[Westley Annis]

Emergency reopening of commercial crabbing

98.5% of state waters reopened for commercial fishing

 

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, in coordination with the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, ordered an emergency reopening of commercial crabbing in
portions of state inside and outside territorial waters within the
Mississippi River Delta previously closed due to the BP oil spill. 


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

 

The reopening includes portions of state waters extending seaward a minimum
distance of one-quarter mile or more from the shoreline between the northern
shore of Pass a Loutre and 29 degrees 12 minutes 40 seconds north latitude
and the western shore of Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River and 89
degrees 25 minutes 00 seconds west longitude. For a detailed description of
the latitude and longitude lines for which the reopening applies, click here
<http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/fishing/ldwf-mississippi-delta-reopening-line-
shrimp-finfish-and-crab-commercial-fishing> .

 

Recreational and commercial fishing for shrimp and finfish were previously
opened in these waters on October 28th. The harvest of oysters is regulated
by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals; harvesting areas remain
closed in portions of these waters.