COMMERCIAL FISHING SEASONS

Shrimp Seasons
Oyster Seasons
Finfish Seasons

Shrimp Season Information

2009 FALL SHRIMP SEASON
The fall inshore shrimp season will open in Shrimp Management Zones 1, 2 and 3 at 6 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 10, 2009.  The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved the season dates at its Aug. 6 meeting based upon recommendations presented by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' (LDWF) Office of Fisheries biological staff and public comment.
Link to full news release

SHRIMP SEASON TO CLOSE IN ADDITIONAL PORTIONS OF ZONE 1 AND ALL OF ZONE 3
The 2009 spring inshore shrimp season in additional portions of Shrimp Management Zone 1 and all of Zone 3 will close on Saturday, July 11, 2009 at 6 a.m.  Effective with this closure all state inside waters will be closed to shrimping except for the following portions of Zone 1 which will remain open until further notice
Link to full news Release

SHRIMP SEASON TO CLOSE IN PORTIONS OF ZONE 1
The 2009 spring inshore shrimp season in Shrimp Management Zone 1 will close on Tuesday, June 30, at 6:00 a.m. except for the following portions of Zone 1
Link to full news Release
 

SHRIMP SEASON TO CLOSE IN ZONE 2

The 2009 spring inshore shrimp season in Shrimp Management Zone 2 will close on Monday, June 22, at 6:00 a.m.  Zone 2 includes state waters from the eastern shore of South Pass of the Mississippi River to the western shore of Vermilion Bay and Southwest Pass at Marsh Island.  Zones 1 and 3 will remain open until further notice.  State territorial waters south of the Inside/Outside shrimp line, as described in LA R.S.56:495, will also remain open to shrimping. 

Link to full news release

LOUISIANA SPRING SHRIMP SEASON TO OPEN
The opening dates of the 2009 Louisiana spring shrimp season were announced at the May 7 meeting of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.  The declaration of emergency, which established the season opening dates, followed a presentation of the latest biological and hydrological data compiled by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Marine Fisheries Division and public comment from shrimpers, members of the shrimp industry and other concerned citizens.

The Louisiana inshore shrimp season in Shrimp Management Zone 1 will open at 7:30 a.m. on May 18 except the open waters of Breton and Chandeleur Sounds as described by the double-rig line (LA R.S.56:495.1(A)2) which shall open at 7:30 a.m. May 11.  Zone 2 as well as that portion of the State?s Outside Waters south of the Inside/Outside Shrimp Line as described in R.S. 56:495 from the western shore of Freshwater Bayou at 92 degrees 18 minutes 33 seconds west longitude to the Atchafalaya River Ship Channel at Eugene Island as delineated by the River Channel Buoy Line will open at 7:30 a.m. on May 11.  Zone 3 will open at 7:30 a.m. on May 25.
Link to full news release

Louisiana Shrimp Management Zones Map

Oyster Season Information

2009-10 OYSTER SEASON
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission set the opening and closing dates for the 2009-10 oyster season on the public oyster areas at their Aug. 6, 2009 meeting. 
Link to full news release

OYSTER SEASON TO CLOSE EARLY IN SELECTED PORTIONS OF THE PUBLIC OYSTER SEED GROUNDS
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Robert J. Barham issued an emergency order to close the 2008-09-oyster season in selected portions of the public oyster seed grounds at one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, March 14, 2009.
Link to full news release

Emergency Closure OF 2008/09 Oyster Season in the Primary Public Oyster Seed Grounds East of the Mississippi River ANNOUNCED
An emergency closure of the 2008/09 oyster season in the Primary Public Oyster Seed Grounds east of the Mississippi River will take effect at one-half hour after sunset on Monday, Oct. 6, 2008 until one-half hour before sunrise on Monday, Oct. 13, 2008.
Link to full news release

COMMISSION APPROVES ADDITIONAL OYSTER SEASON IN SISTER LAKE
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission recently approved an additional oyster season in the Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation.
Link to full news release

OYSTER SEASON DELAY ANNOUNCED FOR THE LAKE MECHANT PUBLIC OYSTER SEED GROUNDS
The oyster season in the Lake Mechant Public Oyster Seed Grounds originally scheduled for Oct. 28-31, 2008 has been delayed until further notice by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Link to full news release

2008-09 LOUISIANA OYSTER SEASONS SET
Opening and closing dates for the 2008-09 oyster season on the public oyster areas were set at the Aug. 7 meeting of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.
Link to full news release

Finfish Seasons Information

ANNUAL CLOSED COMMERCIAL SEASONS

Gag, black and red grouper - closed from February 15 through March 14 of each year
Greater amberjack - closed March 1 through May 31 of each year
Spotted seatrout - closed August 1 through January 1 of the following year
Large Coastal Shark - closed April 1 through June 30 of each year

In addition to the annual closed seasons above, year-specific closed seasons may be announced as commercial quotas are filled, or other regulatory actions taken.

2009 Finfish Season Information

COMMERCIAL KING MACKEREL SEASON TO CLOSE SEPTEMBER 12
The commercial season for king mackerel in Louisiana waters will close at noon on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009.  The decision was made by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Robert Barham. 
The news release is at:
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/news/?id=1509

COMMERCIAL FISHING FOR LARGE COASTAL SHARKS TO REMAIN CLOSED IN LA. WATERS
Commercial fishing for Large Coastal Sharks, as defined by Louisiana rule (L.A.C. 76:VII.357), will remain closed in Louisiana waters.  A seasonal closure for all shark fisheries in Louisiana waters is currently in effect, and these fisheries were scheduled to re-open on July 1.  However, the National Marine Fisheries Service has closed the commercial fishery for Large Coastal Shark in the federal waters off of Louisiana, and requested that Louisiana enact compatible regulations.  Therefore, Secretary Robert Barham has issued a Declaration of Emergency to continue the seasonal closure of the commercial Large Coastal Shark fishery until the re-opening of that fishery in federal waters off of Louisiana.
The news release is at: 
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/news/?id=1408

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES FOR DEEPWATER GROUPERS IN LOUISIANA WATERS TO CLOSE 12:01 A.M., LOCAL TIME, JUNE 27, 2009 UNTIL JANUARY 1, 2010
The commercial fishery for deepwater groupers in Louisiana waters will close at 12:01 a.m. on June 27, 2009, and will remain closed until January 1, 2010.  The deepwater grouper assemblage includes misty, snowy, yellowedge, Warsaw grouper, and speckled hind.
The news release is at:
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/news/?id=1429

COMMERCIAL FISHERY FOR TILEFISHES IN LOUISIANA WATERS TO CLOSE 12:01 A.M., LOCAL TIME, MAY 15, 2009 UNTIL JANUARY 1, 2010
The commercial fishery for tilefishes in Louisiana waters will close at 12:01 a.m. on May 15, 2009, and will remain closed until Jan. 1, 2010.  The tilefish assemblage includes tilefish, goldface tilefish, blackline tilefish, anchor tilefish and blueline tilefish. 
Link to full news release


COMMERCIAL KING MACKEREL SEASON TO CLOSE MARCH 27
The commercial season for king mackerel in Louisiana waters will close at 12:00 noon on Friday, March 27, 2009 until 12:01 a.m. July 1, 2009. Concurrently, the commercial season will close in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Link to full news release