| Public Oyster Area | Season Opening (One-half hour before sunrise) | Season Closing (one-half hour after sunset) Open areas may periodically be closed by LDH for public health concerns. |
Sack Limits (Do not apply to vessels harvesting seed oysters) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Public Oyster Seed Grounds east of the Mississippi River and north of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO; LDH Harvest Areas 1-4) | Closed | Closed | |
| Primary Public Oyster Seed Grounds east of the Mississippi River and south of the MRGO (LDH Harvest Areas 5-8), including Bay Gardene, Long Bay, and American Bay | Closed | Closed | |
| Hackberry Bay Public Oyster Seed Reservation - Bedding | November 16, 2020 1-day season |
November 17, 2020 | No more than 15% of nonliving material allowed in bedding loads |
| Hackberry Bay Public Oyster Seed Reservation - Sacking | November 17, 2020 | November 23, 2020 | 25 sacks/vessel/day (take and possession) |
| Little Lake Public Oyster Seed Grounds | Closed | Closed | |
| Barataria Bay Public Oyster Seed Grounds | Closed | Closed | |
| Lake Chien and Lake Felicity Public Oyster Seed Grounds | Closed | Closed | |
| Deep Lake and Lake Tambour Public Oyster Seed Grounds | Closed | Closed | |
| Lake Mechant Public Oyster Seed Grounds | Closed | Closed | |
| Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation | Closed | Closed | |
| Bay Junop Public Oyster Seed Reservation - Bedding | November 16, 2020 1-day season |
November 17, 2020 | No more than 15% of nonliving material allowed in bedding loads. |
| Bay Junop Public Oyster Seed Reservation - Sacking | November 17, 2020 | November 23, 2020 | 25 sacks/vessel/day (take and possession) |
| Vermilion/East and West Cote Blanche/Atchafalaya Bay Public Oyster Seed Grounds | Closed | Closed | |
| Calcasieu Lake Public Oyster Area - East Side | October 30, 2020 | TBD | 10 sacks/vessel/day (take and possession) No scrapers; tong or hand only |
| Calcasieu Lake Public Oyster Area - West Cove | October 30, 2020 | TBD | 15 sacks/vessel/day (take and possession) No scrapers; tong or hand only |
| Sabine Lake Public Oyster Area | Closed | Closed |
Oyster Season
For more information, contact Carolina Bourque at cbourque@wlf.la.gov or 337.735.8726.
Commercial and recreational oyster seasons are the same. No one may harvest oysters at night (one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise), from public oyster areas nor private leases.
LDWF manages approximately 1.7 million acres of public oyster areas in Louisiana. Every July, LDWF takes a census of the oysters found on public areas. Biologists collect and record data from hundreds of oyster samples across Louisiana’s coast. They use these data to estimate the oyster stock size and recommend when the annual season for public oyster areas should be. This season typically runs from the first Wednesday following Labor Day in September through April 30 of the following year. However, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission can open and close the season when biological data indicate a need. For the most current status, see the information below.
The Louisiana Department of Health may periodically close areas for public health concerns. Check LDH’s website or call 800.256.2775 for more information.
The owner of a private oyster lease or his duly-authorized agents may fish oysters on the lease throughout the year, unless it is closed by LDH.
Current Status of Public Oyster Areas
The 2020 oyster season was set on September 3, 2020, at the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting.
