Commercial fisheries reopen in Louisiana

Commercial fishing reopened for finfish and shrimp in parts of Louisiana waters east of the Mississippi River in Orleans, St Tammany, St Bernard and Plaquemines parishes.

LDWF Secretary Robert Barham made the move after the FDA finalised comprehensive testing and determined that the fish samples tested from the previously closed areas are safe to eat.

The reopening includes all state waters inside east of the Mississippi River north of the northern shore of Pass a Loutre and all state outside waters north of 29 degrees 12 minutes 40 seconds north latitude.

The following areas will stay closed to commercial fishing due to the continued presence of oil:

· The portion of state inside and outside waters north of 29 degrees 59 minutes 30 seconds north latitude and south of the Mississippi/Louisiana state line from the Louisiana territorial sea boundary westward to 89 degrees 15 minutes 00 seconds west longitude;

· The portion of state inside and outside waters north of 29 degrees 36 minutes 30 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 59 minutes 30 seconds north latitude from the Louisiana territorial sea boundary westward to a line extending one mile west from the western shore of the Chandeleur Islands;

· The portion of state inside waters north of 29 degrees 45 minutes 00 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 59 minutes 30 seconds north latitude from 89 degrees 09 minutes 00 seconds west longitude westward to 89 degrees 15 minutes 00 seconds west longitude; and

· The portion of state inside waters north of 29 degrees 47 minutes 00 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 51 minutes 00 seconds north latitude from 89 degrees 15 minutes 00 seconds west longitude westward to 89 degrees 22 minutes 00 seconds west longitude.

The commercial harvests of crabs and oysters are not included in these openings.