SHRIMP SEASON TO CLOSE IN ZONE 2

The 2006 spring inshore shrimp season in Shrimp Management Zone 2 will close on Monday, June 19, at 6 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 Louisiana R.S.56:495, will also remain open to shrimping. 

Zone 1 includes state waters from the Mississippi/Louisiana state line to the eastern shore of South Pass of the Mississippi River and Zone 3 includes state waters from the western shore of Vermilion Bay and Southwest Pass at Marsh Island to the Louisiana/Texas state line.

The closure was announced today by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Dwight Landreneau and was based on recommendations made by LDWF Marine Fisheries Division biologists.

The number, distribution and percentage of small juvenile white shrimp within the area to be closed has progressively increased in recent weeks.  Analysis of current LDWF shrimp trawl sampling data indicates substantial population increases this week and these waters are being closed to protect these developing shrimp.

For more information, contact Martin Bourgeois at 225-765-2401 or mbourgeois@wlf.louisiana.gov.
2006-174