The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will close oyster harvest in portions of the public oyster seed grounds east of the Mississippi River, north of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, and within the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Shellfish Harvest Area 3, one-half hour after sunset on Monday, December 22, 2025, as follows:
Drum Bay - St. Bernard Parish
The Drum Bay closure includes that portion of the public oyster seed grounds within the Drum Bay area, St. Bernard Parish, north of a line of latitude at 29 degrees 51 minutes 58 seconds N, and west of a line of longitude at 89 degrees 14 minutes 08 seconds W.
Recent biological sampling by the department indicates the reefs in the Drum Bay portion of the public oyster seed grounds are experiencing a localized mortality event. Additionally, harvest surveys by the department indicate these reefs are also receiving concentrated harvest pressure. Therefore, the closure is necessary to protect the remaining oyster resource, allowing growth of that resource for future harvest opportunities. Continued commercial harvest could threaten the long-term sustainability of remaining oyster resources in these areas. Protection of these remaining oyster resources from injury is in the best interest of these public oyster seed grounds.
Shell Point (2009) - St. Bernard Parish
The Shell Point closure includes that portion of public oyster seed grounds within the following coordinates:
- 30 degrees 1 minute 15.89 seconds N, 89 degrees 21 minutes 19.51 seconds W
- 30 degrees 1 minute 11.42 seconds N, 89 degrees 21 minutes 12.30 seconds W
- 30 degrees 1 minute 29.77 seconds N, 89 degrees 20 minutes 52.48 seconds W
- 30 degrees 1 minute 34.63 seconds N, 89 degrees 20 minutes 58.81 seconds W.
Harvest monitoring by the department indicates that the recommended harvest threshold on the Shell Point reef in this portion of the public oyster seed grounds east of the Mississippi River has been met, and that a closure is necessary to protect the remaining oyster resource and allow growth for future harvest opportunities. Continued commercial harvest might threaten the long-term sustainability of remaining oyster resources in these areas. Protection of these remaining oyster resources from injury is in the best interest of these public oyster seed grounds.
These closures are only for the Drum Bay area and Shell Point reef of the state’s public oyster seed grounds, and do not affect the other public oyster areas that were also opened to commercial harvest of market-size oysters (≥ 3 inches) on November 3, 2025. This closure does not affect any state oyster leases. The closure areas contain approximately 1,565 acres of natural reefs and 278 acres of cultch plants (constructed oyster reefs). In the areas to be closed, an estimated 35,662 sacks of oysters have been harvested since the season opened on November 3.
This closure is not expected to have a significant impact on oyster production in Louisiana. For reference, 2024 Louisiana oyster production was estimated at 991,264 sacks, of which the majority (91.2%) were harvested on 397,662 acres of state oyster leases (state-owned water bottoms leased to private entities for oyster cultivation). The Drum Bay closure area will be reassessed later this season, and if a substantial harvestable resource is identified, the area may be considered for reopening once the mortality event has passed, before the end of the oyster season (April 1, 2025). This type of event does not occur regularly and is likely a combination of several stressors, including extended periods of high salinity and associated predation by oyster drills (a small, predatory marine snail) that naturally occur in higher salinity waters, and concentrated harvest pressure over the reefs causing increased turbidity levels in the water that can lead to an accumulation of sediment in the oyster’s gills.
To view a map of the current oyster closure areas see above or visit: https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/oyster-season.
The Commission authorized Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Tyler M. Bosworth to take emergency action to close areas on an as-needed basis based on biological data or if enforcement problems are encountered. The Secretary is also authorized to take emergency action to reopen previously closed areas if the threat to the resource has ended, and to open areas if substantial oyster resources are located.
Public notice of any opening, delay, or closure of a season will be provided at least 72 hours prior to such action unless the Louisiana Department of Health orders such closure for public health concerns.
For more information, contact Robert Caballero at (504) 286-4054 or rcaballero@wlf.la.gov.