LOUISIANA

NEWS FROM THE LA. DEPT. OF WILDLIFE & FISHERIES
The Public Information Section of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is responsible for the distribution of LDWF news releases and the department's biweekly newsletter.

2010-254 (August 24, 2010)
FISH KILL IN MRGO TIED TO LOW OXYGEN LEVELS

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) biologists investigating a fish kill in the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO) found low oxygen levels to blame. LDWF received several reports on Sunday, August 22 concerning a large fish kill around the MRGO, east of Hopedale.

LDWF biologists have confirmed the kill is a result of natural events and is not associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. High nutrient content from the Mississippi River in combination with seasonal occurrences has been the cause of hypoxic conditions for years. Although essential in fertilizing the estuaries, in some cases the nutrient load is too great and hypoxic conditions arise. Hypoxic events typically occur in late summer to fall and are also associated with processes that bring deep low-oxygen water to the surface.

Fish need an oxygen level of at least three parts per million to survive. Measurements taken by LDWF staff at various samples sites showed less than one part per million of oxygen at the bottom of the water. A "borderline" oxygen level of perhaps three parts per million was found at the top.

The only large concentration of dead fish was noted in a bayou immediately adjacent to the MRGO. An estimated 500 fish were found in the area. Based on the condition of the fish, they appeared to be roughly five days old. Species observed included large red drum, sheepshead, hardhead catfish, spotted sea trout, croakers and stingray.

Seasonal fish kills are normally found in much of southern Louisiana associated with low oxygen events. LDWF biologists expect these to be common in areas such as marinas, dead-end canals, and other areas with poor circulation. LDWF investigates fish kills using long-standing protocols based on the available information.

To report a fish kill or abnormality, contact the nearest LDWF office during business hours or the Operation Game Thief operator (1-800-442-2511) after hours.

Coastal area offices are listed below:

Slidell
61384 Fish Hatchery Road
Lacombe, LA 70461
Phone (985) 882-0027

New Orleans
2021 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 407
New Orleans, LA 70122
Phone (504) 284-2030

Bourg
Post Office Box 189
Bourg, LA 70343
Phone (985) 594-4139

New Iberia
2415 Darnall Road
New Iberia, LA 70560
Phone (337) 373-0032

Lake Charles
1213 North Lakeshore Drive
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Phone (337) 491-2579

2010-251 (August 24, 2010)
White Lake W.C.A. Youth Waterfowl Hunt Date Announced

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will hold youth waterfowl hunts on the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area (WCA) near Gueydan on Nov. 6 and 7. LDWF will sponsor the hunts to provide a quality experience for young waterfowl hunters.

The participants in the hunts will be determined by a lottery drawing. Applications for the lottery should be submitted to LDWF before close of business on Sept. 23, 2010. One applicant will be selected from each of the seven geographic LDWF regions in the state and one participant will be selected from the state at large.

Applicants must be 15 years of age and younger. Selected hunters must be accompanied in the blind by a parent or guardian, though the youth will be the only one permitted to possess a firearm.

Applications may be obtained by contacting LDWF's regional offices or by visiting the LDWF Web site at www.wlf.louisiana.gov. Completed applications may be delivered in person to Room 458 of the LDWF Building in Baton Rouge, or by mail. The mailing address is: Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Attention: White Lake Youth Waterfowl Hunt at P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898.

For more information, contact Wayne Sweeney at 337-479-1894.

2010-250 (August 21, 2010)
LDWF ANNOUNCES SIGNIFICANT REOPENINGS TO COMMERCIAL CRABBING
IN PLAQUEMINES, ST. BERNARD AND ORLEANS PARISHES

Today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, in coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has ordered an emergency reopening of commercial crabbing in areas east of the Mississippi River and the northern shore of Pass a Loutre that were previously closed due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Effective immediately today, August 21, all state inside and outside territorial waters east of the Mississippi River and north of the northern shore of Pass a Loutre and 29 degrees 12 minutes 40 seconds north latitude are open to the commercial harvest of crabs

LDWF Secretary Robert Barham ordered these reopenings following the completion of comprehensive testing by the FDA. The FDA advised that following extensive sensory testing and analytical chemistry results, the crab samples tested from previously closed areas are safe for consumption.

The following areas remain closed to all commercial fishing including commercial crabbing until further notice:

• 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, and
• 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 1 mile west from the western shore of the Chandeleur Islands, and
• 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.

All Louisiana commercial fishing closures as detailed on the commercial fishing maps posted to the LDWF website remain unchanged.

For maps detailing these commercial openings,
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/commercial-map.png
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/commercial-map-1.png
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/commercial-map-2.png
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/commercial-map-3.png

2010-249 (August 20, 2010)
LDWF Announces the Opening of Commercial Crab Fishing in Significant Areas
West of the Mississippi River

Today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, in coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, ordered an emergency reopening of commercial crabbing in areas west of Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River that were previously closed because of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Effective immediately today, August 20, all state inside and outside territorial waters west of Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River and 89 degrees 25 minutes 00 seconds west longitude are open to the commercial harvest of crabs.

LDWF Secretary Robert Barham ordered these reopenings following the completion of comprehensive testing by the FDA. The FDA advised that, following extensive sensory testing and analytical chemistry results, the crab samples tested from previously closed areas are safe for consumption.

The following areas remain closed to all commercial fishing, including commercial crabbing, until further notice:

All Louisiana commercial fishing closures including commercial crab closures east of Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River remain unchanged. LDWF does anticipate FDA approval to reopen commercial crabbing in this area within days.

The portion of state inside waters north of 29 degrees 23 minutes 00 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 30 minutes 00 seconds north latitude from 89 degrees 50 minutes 00 seconds west longitude westward to the eastern shore of the Barataria Waterway, and

The portion of state inside and outside waters north of 29 degrees 18 minutes 00 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 22 minutes 00 seconds north latitude from 89 degrees 48 minutes 00 seconds west longitude westward to 89 degrees 52 minutes 00 seconds west longitude, and

The portion of state inside and outside waters bounded by the following coordinates:

1. 29 degrees 18 minutes 00 seconds north latitude / 89 degrees 48 minutes 00 seconds west longitude
2. 29 degrees 20 minutes 00 seconds north latitude / 89 degrees 48 minutes 00 seconds west longitude
3. 29 degrees 13 minutes 40 seconds north latitude / 89 degrees 33 minutes 00 seconds west longitude
4. 29 degrees 15 minutes 00 seconds north latitude / 89 degrees 32 minutes 30 seconds west longitude

The portion of state inside and outside waters bounded by the following coordinates:

1. 29 degrees 18 minutes 00 seconds north latitude / 89 degrees 52 minutes 00 seconds west longitude
2. 29 degrees 21 minutes 00 seconds north latitude / 89 degrees 52 minutes 00 seconds west longitude
3. 29 degrees 15 minutes 40 seconds north latitude / 89 degrees 56 minutes 00 seconds west longitude
4. 29 degrees 17 minutes 10 seconds north latitude / 89 degrees 57 minutes 30 seconds west longitude

The portion of state inside and outside waters north of 29 degrees 08 minutes 15 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 11 minutes 40 seconds north latitude from 90 degrees 03 minutes 00 seconds west longitude westward to 90 degrees 07 minutes 00 seconds west longitude, and

The portion of state inside waters north of 29 degrees 09 minutes 00 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 12 minutes 50 seconds north latitude from the western shore of Bayou Lafourche westward to 90 degrees 17 minutes 50 seconds west longitude, and

The portion of state inside and outside waters north of 29 degrees 03 minutes 00 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 09 minutes 00 seconds north latitude from 90 degrees 13 minutes 30 seconds west longitude and the western shore of Bayou Lafourche westward to 90 degrees 34 minutes 00 seconds west longitude, and

The portion of state inside and outside waters north of 29 degrees 02 minutes 00 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 05 minutes 00 seconds north latitude from 90 degrees 37 minutes 00 seconds west longitude westward to 90 degrees 58 minutes 00 seconds west longitude

* For maps detailing these commercial openings, click here.
* For detail sheet one, click here.
* For detail sheet two, click here.
* For detail sheet three, click here.

For more information related to the oil spill, visit http://www.emergency.louisiana.gov. Connect with us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GOHSEP and on Twitter as @GOHSEP. View photos from the state's response efforts at http://www.flickr.com/photos/lagohsep.

2010-248 (August 20, 2010)
LDWF REOPENS ALL STATE WATERS TO RECREATIONAL ANGLING

Today, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission ordered an immediate opening of all state inshore and offshore territorial waters to recreational angling, including charter boat angling. The areas opened today by the commission do not include the recreational harvest of shrimp, crabs or oysters. Prior to today’s action, approximately 862 square miles or 11 percent of saltwater areas of the state remained closed to all recreational fishing due to the impacts from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

LDWF, in coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is continuing to provide additional fish tissue samples for sensory testing and chemical analysis in preparation for re-opening areas currently closed to commercial crabbing and commercial fishing.

With today’s action, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission also voted to submit a letter, urging the FDA and NOAA to expedite the required testing to re-open commercial fishing areas previously closed due to confirmed reports of oil.

LDWF guidelines for re-opening commercial fishing areas are as follows:

• Once visible signs of oil are no longer apparent in areas that were previously closed by LDWF to commercial fishing, LDWF will then submit an “intent to reopen” to NOAA and the FDA
• LDWF biologists will conduct thorough sampling of finfish, crabs and shrimp in the proposed reopening area
• Following the collection of the samples, biologists will immediately transfer specimens to be tested by the FDA and NOAA for signs of chemical contamination. This process is expected to take between seven and ten days
• After complete analysis the FDA and NOAA will render an opinion regarding proposed reopening

For a map detailing today’s recreational openings click here.
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/recreational-map-1.png
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/recreational-map-2.png
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/recreational-map-3.png

2010-247 (August 19, 2010)
L.D.W.F. ANNOUNCES PROPOSED Reintroduction of Non-migratory Whooping Cranes
into Southwest Louisiana

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will attempt to establish a non-migratory flock of whooping cranes that lives and breeds in the wetlands, marshes and prairies of southwestern Louisiana. If this proposal is approved, the reintroduction effort could begin during early 2011.

The process began today with an announcement in the Federal Register seeking public comment on a proposed rule to reintroduce the endangered whooping crane into habitat in its historic range on the state-owned White Lake Wetland Conservation Area in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana.

LDWF Secretary Robert Barham praised this lofty proposal to reintroduce whooping cranes back into the wetlands of the Chenier coastal plain. “Crane species around the world depend on coastal wetlands, and the proposed efforts would reunite this indigenous species back into some of the most productive and expansive coastal freshwater wetlands left in America,” he said.

The reintroduction is being proposed as part of an ongoing recovery effort for this highly imperiled species, which was on the verge of extinction in the 1940s and even today has only about 395 individuals in the wild (550 worldwide); none in Louisiana. The only self-sustaining wild population of whooping cranes migrates between Wood Buffalo National Park in the Northwest Territories of Canada and Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas and, like those in the eastern populations, remains vulnerable to extinction from continued loss of habitat or natural or man-made catastrophes. Multiple efforts are underway to reduce this risk by increasing populations in the wild, including ongoing efforts to establish a migratory population in the eastern United States.

“With just under 400 birds in the wild, the vast majority of which winter along the Texas coast, whooping cranes are among our nation’s most threatened species. Our proposal to reintroduce a population in Louisiana would not only help protect this iconic species from extinction but would also help us take another big step in our campaign to restore the Gulf Coast’s wildlife, marshes, and coasts to health,” said Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior.

USFWS proposes the new, reintroduced, non-migratory population of whooping cranes be designated as a non-essential, experimental population (NEP) under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act. This proposed designation and its implementing regulation are developed to be more compatible with routine human activities in the reintroduction area. The designation allows for take of whooping cranes when such take is accidental and incidental to an otherwise lawful activity, including agriculture practices, recreation, and hunting. The intentional take (including killing or harm) of any NEP-designated whooping crane would still be a violation of federal law punishable under the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

“LDWF’s wildlife biologists have decades of experience restoring wildlife and have led several successful wildlife restoration efforts including the American alligator, the brown pelican and the bald eagle,” said Robert Love, LDWF Coastal and Non-game Resources Division Administrator. “These are examples of coastal wildlife species which have been successfully restored, additional to white tailed deer, wild turkey and black bear populations, all upland species which have been, or are currently being restored.”

There are approximately 1.3 million acres of marsh, open water, and Chenier habitat in southwestern coastal Louisiana. The cranes would be reintroduced to the White Lake area and are not expected to be affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Whooping cranes historically occurred in Louisiana in both a resident, non-migratory flock and a migratory flock that wintered in Louisiana. The proposed release area is the location where whooping cranes were historically documented raising young in Louisiana.

“This reintroduction of a new non-migratory flock would not only restore the whooping crane to part of its historic range but also would provide another geographically distinct population,” said Cindy Dohner, USFWS Southeast Regional Director. “We look forward to continued work with our partners at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to aid in the recovery of this magnificent bird.”

Today’s Federal Register announcement includes the proposed rule. USFWS has drafted an environmental assessment (EA), which evaluates several alternatives for establishing a new non-migratory population of whooping cranes. USFWS is seeking comments on both documents, and also specifically the following: (1) the geographic boundary for the NEP; and, (2) effects of the reintroduction on other native species and the ecosystem.

To allow adequate time to conduct this review, USFWS requests that information be received on or before October 18. 2010. You may submit information by one of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R4-ES-2010-0057; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.
• E-mails or faxes will not be accepted. All comments will be posted on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that any personal information provided will be posted.

LDWF and USFWS will hold public hearing at the following locations: Gueydan, Louisiana, on September 15, 2010 at the Gueydan Civic Center, 901 Wilkinson St., Gueydan, LA 70542; and in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on September 16, 2010 at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 2000 Quail Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70808.

Each public hearing will last from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Before each hearing, an open house will be held to provide an additional opportunity for the public to gain information and ask questions about the proposed rule. All comments received at a public hearing, both verbal and written, will be considered in making a final decision.

2010-246 (August 19, 2010)
From: State of Louisiana Office of the Governor GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL

GOVERNOR JINDAL ANNOUNCES FUNDING FOR FISHERY RESOURCE MONITORING PROGRAM,
CALLS ON BP TO FUND LONG-TERM SEAFOOD PLAN

NEW ORLEANS - Today, Governor Bobby Jindal announced that BP has agreed to fund a three-year, $13 million fishery-resource monitoring plan and he also called on BP to fund the state's long-term comprehensive seafood certification and marketing plan that was submitted nearly two months ago. The Governor stressed that the fishery-resource monitoring plan is only a first step and BP's approval of a seafood certification and marketing plan is critical to ensuring the long-term viability of the seafood industry in Louisiana.

Governor Jindal said, "This is an important first step - and we thank BP for this investment. However, this is only a first step and we need the next step to happen in the next days or the next week - not next month or next year. We have been asking for approval of our comprehensive seafood safety and testing plan for months now and the time to act is now. This is one of the most critical issues facing our state as we work to recover from the effects of this spill.

"We must quickly put in place a comprehensive testing program that will give the public and the market predictability and confidence in our seafood industry. We want the world to know that Louisiana seafood is not only safe, but continues to be the best seafood in the world. The seafood industry is unique and integral to our economy and the very fabric of our state. We need BP to approve this plan in days, not months."

For the event, the Governor was joined by Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser, St. Bernard Parish President Billy Nungesser, Harlon's LA Fishing owner Harlon Pearce, Lake Pontchartrain Fisherman's Association Peter Gerica, Louisiana Restaurant Association President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Funk, Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board Executive Director Ewell Smith, Pascal's Restaurant Owner Mark DeFelice.

LONG-TERM SEAFOOD CERTIFICATION AND MARKETING PLAN

The state submitted the long-term seafood safety plan to BP on May 29th to fund the creation of a Louisiana Wild Seafood Certification Program that will enable the state to oversee seafood processing from catch to retail. This will allow Louisiana seafood harvesters and processors to certify that their products adhere to best practices, guaranteeing quality for American consumers and demonstrating that people in Louisiana stand behind their products.

The state's new, revised long-term seafood safety plan calls for an initial five-year cost of $173 million and there are automatic renewals based on objective criteria. Specifically, the initial five-year cost for this program totals $173 million. Three criteria will be used to determine the success of the initial five years of work. The first will be that tissue sample results show no indicators that oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill is present. The second is that landings of major species of seafood - shrimp, crabs, oysters and fish - are at or above pre-spill levels. The third component is that markets are restored and the overall value of seafood is at or above pre-spill amounts. If these conditions are not met by the end of the fifth year, the state is asking BP to fund an additional three years of the project. The renewal will continue if these conditions are not met for up to 20 years

IMPORTANCE OF LOUISIANA'S SEAFOOD INDUSTRY

There are around 12,260 commercial fishing licenses in Louisiana and over 1,500 seafood dealers/processors and brokers in Louisiana.

Louisiana produces nearly one-third of the domestic seafood for the continental U.S. Seventy percent of the seafood production in the Gulf of Mexico comes from Louisiana fishers, shrimpers and oyster harvesters. Louisiana is second only to Alaska in terms of commercial fisheries production and home to three of the top seven commercial fishing ports in the country. In Louisiana, around one billion pounds of fisheries products worth over $272 million are produced every year.

In recent years, Louisiana commercial fishermen landed significant portions of the total U.S. commercial harvest, including 35 percent of shrimp, 36 percent of oysters, 56 percent of the Gulf menhaden, 27 percent of blue crab, 55 percent of black drum, 23 percent of all snapper species and 20 percent of yellowfin tuna.

FISHERY-RESOURCE MONITORING PROGRAM

The fishery-resource monitoring program will enable biologists from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) to conduct a three-year study on the effects of the oil spill on Louisiana's fisheries resources. The core components of the plan include monitoring Louisiana's inshore aquatic resources, which will allow biologists to quantify the impact of the oil spill on inshore fishery resources by enhancing monitoring and sampling approaches.

This study also includes monitoring Louisiana's near shore aquatic resources, which will provide fishery-independent monitoring and assessment information essential to the management of Louisiana's Gulf of Mexico fisheries. This study also includes monitoring Louisiana's sensitive reef fish complex, which will help gather information on demographics of several native species of reef fish, including red snapper, on the Louisiana continental shelf. If damages around found after the three years of the study, the state can ask BP for an extension or use legal avenues available under the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process.

For more information contact Joey Shepard at 225-765-2384 or jshepard@wlf.la.gov.

2010-11 (August 16, 2010)
HUNTING REGULATIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE

The 2010-11 Hunting Regulations pamphlet is available on the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Web site at http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/regulations.

The pamphlet includes the 2010-11 Wildlife Management Area (WMA) regulations, WMA lottery hunts and physically challenged hunts, deer season dates, mandatory deer tagging information, and information on license fees and types. The booklet also includes the season dates and bag limits for quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory game birds.

Printed copies of the 2010-11 Hunting Regulations booklet will be available beginning the week of Aug. 16 and found at local hunting license vendors and LDWF field offices. For contact information and addresses of the local LDWF field offices, please visit http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/contactus/contact.cfm?id=11 or call 225-765-2800.

2010- 245 (August 16, 2010)
L.D.W.F. ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA LOTTERY HUNTS

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is accepting applications for lottery hunts to be held on several Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) this upcoming hunting season.

LDWF is sponsoring the hunts to provide a quality outdoor experience for the various hunters. Youth, physically challenged, physically challenged wheelchair confined and general lottery hunts will be conducted. For the second consecutive year a youth lottery squirrel hunt will be conducted on Floy W. McElroy WMA.

Successful participants in the hunts will be selected by a randomized computer drawing. Applications for the lottery must be submitted to LDWF before close of business on the date listed on the application. Rules and regulations pertaining to the hunts are also included on the application. A $5 administrative fee will be charged to each applicant.

Applications and more information may be obtained by contacting your local LDWF office or by visiting the LDWF Web site at http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/regulations/wma/lotteryhunts.

Completed applications may be delivered in person to Room 445 of the LDWF Headquarters Building located at 2000 Quail Dr. in Baton Rouge or by mail. The mailing address is: Wildlife Division WMA Lotteries, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898 to the attention of the lottery application title. For more information, contact Randy Myers at 225-765-2359.

2010-246 (August 16, 2010)
LOUISIANA CRAB TASK FORCE TO MEET

The Louisiana Crab Task Force will meet on Thursday, Aug. 19 at 4:30 p.m. in the Louisiana Room of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) headquarters building located at 2000 Quail Drive in Baton Rouge.

Agenda items will include: progress in MSC certification; impacts of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on the LA Crab Industry; and an update on the National Seafood Marketing Board.

The Crab Task Force is an industry advisory group comprised of fishermen, soft crab shedders, and dealers and processors, as well as state agency and university representatives. The task force, established by Act No. 57 of the 2001 regular legislative session, advises the LDWF and the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission on matters pertaining to the management and development of the Louisiana crab industry.

2010- 243 (August 16, 2010)
LOUISIANA COMMERCIAL FISHING MOVES FORWARD WITH ADDITIONAL STATE WATER OPENINGS

Several areas of Louisiana’s state waters were reopened Saturday, August 14 to commercial fishing in Lafourche, Terrebonne, Plaquemines and Jefferson parishes, showing more progress for Louisiana’s fishing industry. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) in coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered an emergency reopening of commercial fishing areas previously closed due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

LDWF Secretary Robert Barham ordered these re-openings following the completion of FDA’s comprehensive testing. The FDA advised that following extensive sensory testing and analytical chemistry results, seafood samples tested from previously closed areas were safe for consumption.

In addition to this news, Louisiana’s fall inshore shrimp season opened today at 6 a.m. in Shrimp Management Zones 1, 2 and 3. This opening was announced August 5 after approval from the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.

“These latest openings are significant to Louisiana’s fishing industry, on both economic and morale levels,” stated LDWF Secretary Robert Barham. “With the fall inshore shrimp season opening today and Saturday’s announcement of additional openings in state waters we are telling our fishermen, and the rest of the country, that progress is underway and we are getting back to business.”

With Saturday’s actions, adjustments were made to the areas closed to recreational fishing west of Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River. Those areas closed to commercial fishing now match the areas closed to recreational fishing. LDWF made these adjustments to align with areas reopened based on FDA testing and to allow LDWF enforcement agents to better monitor closed areas.

These openings do not include the commercial harvest of crabs and oysters. The FDA testing method for crabs takes significantly longer to process, therefore LDWF Secretary Barham chose a phased approach for opening commercial fishing. While LDWF continues to work closely with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals to ensure the safety of Louisiana's seafood, these openings do not include the commercial harvest of oysters, as this activity is regulated by DHH.

All commercial and recreational closures east of Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River remain unchanged.

See below for maps detailing these new openings and fall shrimp season openings:
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/commercial-map.png
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/commercial-map-1.png
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/commercial-map-2.png
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/commercial-map-3.png
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/recreational-map-1.png
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/recreational-map-2.png
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/img/maps/oil-spill/recreational-map-3.png

Commercial Fishing Reopening in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes
All state inside and outside waters from the western shore of Bayou Lafourche westward to the eastern shore of Oyster Bayou at 91 degrees 07 minutes 48 seconds west longitude will open to commercial fishing excluding the harvest of crabs and oysters effective Saturday, August 14, except in the following areas which will remain closed to commercial and recreational fishing until further notice due to continued presence of oil:

The portion of state inside waters north of 29 degrees 09 minutes 00 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 12 minutes 50 seconds north latitude from the western shore of Bayou Lafourche westward to 90 degrees 17 minutes 50 seconds west longitude, and

The portion of state inside and outside waters north of 29 degrees 03 minutes 00 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 09 minutes 00 seconds north latitude from 90 degrees 13 minutes 30 seconds west longitude and the western shore of Bayou Lafourche westward to 90 degrees 34 minutes 00 seconds west longitude, and

The portion of state inside and outside waters north of 29 degrees 02 minutes 00 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 05 minutes 00 seconds north latitude from 90 degrees 37 minutes 00 seconds west longitude westward to 90 degrees 58 minutes 00 seconds west longitude

Commercial Fishing Reopening in Plaquemines, Jefferson and Lafourche Parishes
All state inside and outside waters from the western shore of Southwest Pass at the Mississippi River and 89 degrees 25 minutes 00 seconds west longitude westward to the western shore of Bayou Lafourche will open to commercial fishing excluding the harvest of crabs and oysters effective Saturday, August 14, except in the following areas which will remain closed to commercial and recreational fishing until further notice due to continued presence of oil:

The portion of state inside waters north of 29 degrees 23 minutes 00 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 30 minutes 00 seconds north latitude from 89 degrees 50 minutes 00 seconds west longitude westward to the eastern shore of the Barataria Waterway, and

The portion of state inside and outside waters north of 29 degrees 18 minutes 00 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 22 minutes 00 seconds north latitude from 89 degrees 48 minutes 00 seconds west longitude westward to 89 degrees 52 minutes 00 seconds west longitude, and

The portion of state inside and outside waters bounded by the following coordinates:
1) 29 degrees 18 minutes 00 seconds north latitude
89 degrees 48 minutes 00 seconds west longitude

2) 29 degrees 20 minutes 00 seconds north latitude
89 degrees 48 minutes 00 seconds west longitude

3) 29 degrees 13 minutes 40 seconds north latitude
89 degrees 33 minutes 00 seconds west longitude

4) 29 degrees 15 minutes 00 seconds north latitude
89 degrees 32 minutes 30 seconds west longitude

The portion of state inside and outside waters bounded by the following coordinates:
1) 29 degrees 18 minutes 00 seconds north latitude
89 degrees 52 minutes 00 seconds west longitude

2) 29 degrees 21 minutes 00 seconds north latitude
89 degrees 52 minutes 00 seconds west longitude

3) 29 degrees 15 minutes 40 seconds north latitude
89 degrees 56 minutes 00 seconds west longitude

4) 29 degrees 17 minutes 10 seconds north latitude
89 degrees 57 minutes 30 seconds west longitude

The portion of state inside and outside waters north of 29 degrees 08 minutes 15 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 11 minutes 40 seconds north latitude from 90 degrees 03 minutes 00 seconds west longitude westward to 90 degrees 07 minutes 00 seconds west longitude

To report a suspected oiled catch to LDWF you are encouraged to call 1-866-577-1401. Please be prepared to give your name, fishing license number and coordinates of suspected oil. All claims are taken very seriously, and any person found falsifying claims would be dealt with to the full extent the law allows.

2010- 241 (August 12, 2010)
ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR LOUISIANA SHRIMP HARVESTERS

Qualified Louisiana shrimp fishermen may receive up to $12,000 in cash benefits and obtain technical training under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Farmers Program.

This program is designed to help shrimpers in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic adjust to increased competition through training and payments to implement new business strategies.

Individual shrimpers in Louisiana interested in applying for technical training and up to $12,000 in cash benefits must complete and submit a written application to their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) center by September 23, 2010.

To find the Louisiana FSA center nearest you, visit the following link to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website and click on the parish where you live. http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=la&agency=fsa

When applying for TAA benefits, you must provide documentation that you caught or harvested shrimp (i.e. LDWF trip ticket reports) in the 2008 marketing year and during at least one of the three previous marketing years (2005, 2006 or 2007). You may also need to certify that either your production or price per pound declined from previous years. Interested family members or business partners may be listed as an alternate on the application form if you are unable to attend training.

2010-240 (August 11, 2010)
L.D.W.F. ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR WATERFOWL GROUP HUNTS ON WHITE LAKE WETLANDS CONSERVATION AREA FOR 2010-11 HUNTING SEASON

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is now accepting applications for waterfowl group hunts for up to 12 hunters per group on the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area (WCA).

The cost of the 2010-2011 waterfowl season hunts will be $30,000 for each group and the application form is available on the LDWF Web site at www.wlf.louisiana.gov/pdfs/whitelake/2010-2011-Group-Hunt-Application.pdf starting Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010. A completed application form and $2,500 deposit must be submitted to LDWF by the close of business on Aug. 31, 2010.

Interested groups must select one, two-day group hunt per application. When selecting dates from the dates offered it is understood that arrival will be the afternoon before. The two consecutive days of hunting do not include the arrival day, which will be the day before from 3-5 p.m.

LDWF will then select one application by random lottery drawing for each hunt offered. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must submit a separate application for each two-day group hunt they wish to reserve.

Applications must be accompanied by a bank draft, money order or other liquid instrument made payable to Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in the amount of $2,500. If the application is selected, the deposit is non-refundable, and the applicants will be notified by mail and required to submit the final payment of $27,500 no later than 14 days prior to arrival.

The fee covers up to 12 hunters and includes the following: transportation to and from the airport (Jennings and Lake Charles), all food and beverages, two-night stay at the White Lake Lodge, professional hunting and fishing guides, hunting and fishing licenses, steel shot shotgun shells for waterfowl hunts and lead shot for skeet range, the use of shotguns and fishing gear, bird and fish cleaning and packaging.

On arrival day, hunters will watch a safety film and then be issued hunting and fishing licenses. If time allows they will shoot skeet in the late afternoon hours. Day two starts with a morning waterfowl hunt from 6-9:30 a.m. After the hunt, the group can fish or shoot clay targets on the skeet range or sporting clays course. On day three a morning waterfowl hunt is scheduled from 6-9:30 a.m. and checkout is no later than noon after lunch.

Applications must be mailed to Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Attention: White Lake Group Hunt, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898 (Physical Address: 2000 Quail Drive, Room 458, Baton Rouge, LA 70808). Contact Wayne Sweeney, hunt coordinator, for more information at 337-479-1894.

2010-238 (August 5, 2010)
CHAUVIN MAN ARRESTED BY LDWF AGENTS FOR FALSIFYING TRIP TICKETS

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents with the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) arrested a Chauvin man today, Aug. 5 for allegedly falsifying trip ticket information and are transporting him to the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail.

Jessie Lambas, 58, allegedly falsified trip ticket documents dated from May and June of 2009 in order to file a claim with BP America due to the Transocean Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Lambas was charged with three felonies for filing false public records, injuring public records and theft by fraud. The trip tickets were filed with LDWF on May 27 and represented 5,644 pounds of shrimp with a value of $10,237.50. Lambas stated that he received three payments from BP America totaling $3,000 from May 24 to July 14.

SIU agents met with Lambas on July 26 and 31 after receiving a complaint from the department's trip ticket section that Lambas did not possess a commercial fishing license in 2009. Lambas does have a wholesale/retail seafood dealer’s license that allows him access to trip tickets issued to the wholesale/retail seafood dealer.

Lambas stated that he filed trip tickets from 2010, but the department does not have any record of issuing Lambas trip tickets in 2010 according to the arrest warrant. The warrant also states that the trip tickets under question match the 50 trip tickets that he was issued in 2008.

If convicted, Lambas faces fines up to $5,000 and up to five years in jail with or without hard labor for each charge of falsifying and injuring public records. For the fraud charge, Lambas faces a fine up to $10,000 and up to 10 years in jail with or without hard labor.

"We want to ensure our commercial fishermen and dealers are compensated fairly by using accurate trip ticket information," said Col. Winton Vidrine, head of LDWF's Enforcement Division. "We do not want to see commercial fishermen or dealers tempted to commit felony violations by falsifying trip ticket documents."

LDWF routinely reviews every trip ticket received from the commercial fishing industry to ensure that the most accurate data are collected and properly reflect the important role the state of Louisiana plays in the production of seafood.

These reviews are critical to ensure that commercial fishermen and wholesale/retail dealers are appropriately credited with landings in the event of compensation that results from a natural disaster such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and the current BP America oil spill.

BP America is requesting commercial fishermen to provide landings information from 2007-10 to determine eligibility for financial assistance. LDWF is providing a landings data report back to commercial fishermen, when requested, to assist with this eligibility process.

The review of trip tickets has become even more critical during this time period considering that the previous years are being used to establish eligibility for assistance. Any trip tickets from previous years are being subjected to another layer of review by LDWF staff to confirm their validity.

"The information provided on a trip ticket is the best way for the department to establish the value of Louisiana fisheries and the importance of those fisheries to the nation. Trip ticket data also plays a key role in the managing of fisheries in Louisiana to ensure sustainability," said Michelle Kasprzak, LDWF Trip Ticket Program administrator. "We ask that trip tickets be completed accurately and submitted on time as required. Inaccurate or embellished trip tickets will be investigated by the department's Law Enforcement Division."

Trip tickets are filled out at the first point of sale between a commercial fisherman and wholesale/retail dealer or fresh product license holder and are due on the 10th of every month. Trip tickets are then entered into LDWFs Trip Ticket Program's database.

Commercial fishermen and wholesale/retail dealers may request their trip ticket landings by following the instructions on the LDWF Web site at www.louisiana.gov/oilspill or calling the trip ticket section at 225-765-2399.

2010-237 (August 5, 2010)
Rehabilitated Brown Pelicans Released at Rabbit Island in Cameron Parish

State and federal biologists today released the first brown pelicans back into Louisiana coastal habitat since rescue and rehabilitation operations began following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The 15 pelicans were transported from the Bird Rehabilitation Center in Hammond and carefully off loaded on to Rabbit Island by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) biologists, US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) biologists and representatives from the International Bird Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.

“We are pleased to see our state bird being returned to the coastal zone and applaud the efforts of the biologists who captured the distressed birds and the rehabilitation specialists who work diligently to ensure their survival,” said Robert Barham, LDWF secretary.

Rabbit Island, within Calcasieu Lake, was selected as the release point due to its inland, southwestern Louisiana location which has not been impacted by any oil for the duration of the spill incident. The Cameron Parish location provides 220 acres inhabited by laughing gulls, brown pelicans, and a mix of wading birds that includes roseate spoonbills, herons and egrets.

For photos of today's event go to: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/oilspill/gallery

Since bird rescue and rehab began in April, 611 brown and white pelicans have been rescued alive in Louisiana. 248 have been successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild in Texas, Florida, Georgia, and now Louisiana.

2010-233 (August 5, 2010)
L.W.F.C. SETS TENTATIVE 20010-11 MIGRATORY WATERFOWL SEASONS

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) voted to tentatively adopt proposed season dates, bag limits and shooting hours for the 2010-11 migratory waterfowl season at their Aug. 5 meeting. The dates will be ratified by a declaration of emergency from the commission, after approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is once again recommending a 60-day season be adopted for ducks and coots. In the West Zone, the first segment will open on Nov. 13 and close on Dec. 5. The second segment will open on Dec. 18 and run through Jan. 23. In the East Zone, the first segment will go from Nov. 20 to Dec. 5. The second segment will last from Dec. 18 to Jan. 30.

Youth waterfowl weekend in the West Zone is Nov. 6-7 and in the East Zone Nov. 13-14.

The daily bag limit on ducks is six and may include no more than four mallards (no more than two of which may be females), two pintails, one canvasback, one mottled duck, one black duck, three wood ducks, two scaup and two redheads.

The daily bag limit on coots is 15. The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, of which only two may be hooded mergansers. The merganser limits are in addition to the daily bag limit for ducks.

The possession limit on ducks, coots and mergansers is twice the daily bag limit.

Light geese and white-fronted geese will have a 72-day season. The first segment in the West Zone will open on Nov. 13 and close on Dec. 5. The second segment in the West Zone will run from Dec. 18 to Feb. 4. The first segment in the East Zone will open on Nov. 8 and run until Dec. 5. The second segment will run from Dec. 18 to Jan. 30. The daily bag limit on light geese is 20, with no possession limit. The daily limit on white-fronted geese is two, with a possession limit of four. When the Canada goose season is open, the limit is two dark geese (white-fronted and Canada) of which no more than one can be a Canada goose.

The Canada goose season will be from Dec. 18 to Jan. 30 statewide, except for a small closure area in southwest Louisiana. The daily limit for Canada geese is one in aggregate with white-fronted geese and the possession limit is two in aggregate with white-fronted geese. So the daily bag limit will allow two dark geese (white-fronted and Canada geese), no more than one of which may be a Canada goose.

The Statewide Conservation Order for light geese will open in the West Zone on Dec. 6, and the first segment will close on Dec. 17. The second segment in the West Zone will run from Feb. 5 to March 13. The first segment in the East Zone will run from Dec. 6 to 17, and the second segment will be from Jan. 31 to March 13. During this time, only snow, blue and Ross’ geese may be taken and daily bag and possession limits are eliminated. The use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns is permitted. Shooting hours during the Conservation Order begin one-half hour before sunrise and extend until one-half hour after sunset.

Rails may be taken from Nov. 13 to Jan. 5. For King and Clapper rails, the daily limit is 15 in the aggregate with a possession limit of 30. Sora and Virginia rails have a daily and possession limit of 25 in the aggregate.

Gallinule season will open on Nov. 13 and close on Jan. 5. The daily bag limit is 15 with a possession limit of 30.

Snipe may be taken in the first segment from Nov. 6 to Dec. 10 and from Dec. 18 to Feb. 27 in the second segment, with a daily bag limit of eight and a possession limit of 16.

Shooting hours for migratory bird hunting, except for the Conservation Order, are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except at the Spanish Lake Recreation Area in Iberia Parish where shooting hours, including the Conservation Order, end at 2 p.m.

An extended falconry season for ducks, rails and gallinules will take place from Nov. 6 to Feb. 4.

2010-234 (August 5, 2010)
LDWF ANNOUNCES 2010-2011 LOUISIANA OYSTER SEASONS

Opening and closing dates for the 2010/2011 oyster season on the public oyster areas were set at the today at the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting. The seasons were set following public comment and recommendations presented by LDWF biologists.

The 2010/2011 oyster season in the primary public oyster seed grounds east of the Mississippi River, including Lake Borgne and the sacking-only areas of Lake Fortuna/Lake Machias and American/Long Bay, shall open one-half hour before sunrise on November 15, 2010 and shall close at one-half hour after official sunset on April 1, 2011, except for the Bay Gardene Public Oyster Seed Reservation and the 2009 cultch plant areas in Black Bay and Three-Mile Bay within the following coordinates, which shall remain closed:

2009 Cultch Plant in Black Bay – Plaquemines Parish
1. 29 degrees 36 minutes 55.598 seconds N latitude / 89 degrees 32 minutes 30.482 seconds W longitude
2. 29 degrees 36 minutes 25.239 seconds N latitude / 89 degrees 32 minutes 12.858 seconds W longitude
3. 29 degrees 36 minutes 14.674 seconds N latitude / 89 degrees 32 minutes 47.070 seconds W longitude
4. 29 degrees 36 minutes 45.476 seconds N latitude / 89 degrees 33 minutes 02.681 seconds W longitude

2009 Cultch Plant in Three-Mile Bay - St. Bernard Parish
1. 30 degrees 01 minutes 15.884 seconds N latitude / 89 degrees 21 minutes 19.511 seconds W longitude
2. 30 degrees 01 minutes 34.630 seconds N latitude / 89 degrees 20 minutes 58.811 seconds W longitude
3. 30 degrees 01 minutes 11.418 seconds N latitude / 89 degrees 21 minutes 12.304 seconds W longitude
4. 30 degrees 01 minutes 29.772 seconds N latitude / 89 degrees 20 minutes 52.475 seconds W longitude

The oyster season in the Hackberry Bay Public Oyster Seed Reservation shall open at one-half hour before sunrise on November 15, 2010 and shall close at one-half hour after sunset on November 21, 2010, except for the 2008 cultch plant within the following coordinates which shall open at one-half hour before sunrise on November 15, 2010 and shall close at one-half hour after sunset on November 16, 2010:

2008 Cultch Plant in Hackberry Bay - Jefferson/Lafourche Parish
1. 29 degrees 25 minutes 28.80 seconds N latitude / 90 degrees 01 minutes 17.11 seconds W longitude
2. 29 degrees 25 minutes 37.79 seconds N latitude / 90 degrees 00 minutes 55.39 seconds W longitude
3. 29 degrees 25 minutes 28.61 seconds N latitude / 90 degrees 00 minutes 50.44 seconds W longitude
4. 29 degrees 25 minutes 19.63 seconds N latitude / 90 degrees 01 minutes 12.17 seconds W longitude

The Little Lake Public Oyster Seed Grounds shall open one-half hour before sunrise on November 15, 2010 and shall close one half-hour after sunset on April 1, 2011.

The Lake Chien and Lake Felicity Public Oyster Seed Grounds shall open one-half hour before sunrise on November 15, 2010 and shall close at one-half hour after sunset on November 16, 2010, except for the 2009 cultch plant in Lake Chien within the following coordinates, which shall remain closed:

2009 Cultch Plant in Lake Chien - Terrebonne Parish
1. 29 degrees 20 minutes 07.167 seconds N latitude / 90 degrees 26 minutes 07.493 seconds W longitude
2. 29 degrees 19 minutes 59.855 seconds N latitude / 90 degrees 26 minutes 08.985 seconds W longitude
3. 29 degrees 20 minutes 03.161 seconds N latitude / 90 degrees 26 minutes 23.849 seconds W longitude
4. 29 degrees 20 minutes 09.837 seconds N latitude / 90 degrees 26 minutes 22.538 seconds W longitude.

The Lake Mechant Public Oyster Seed Grounds shall open one-half hour before sunrise on October 29, 2010 and shall close at one-half hour after sunset October 31, 2010.

The oyster season in the Bay Junop Public Oyster Seed Reservation shall open one-half hour before sunrise on November 15, 2010 and shall close one-half hour after sunset on November 21, 2010,

The Vermilion/East and West Cote Blanche/Atchafalaya Bay Public Oyster Seed Grounds shall open one-half hour before sunrise on November 15, 2010 and shall close one half-hour after sunset on April 1, 2011.

The oyster season in the west cove portion of the Calcasieu Lake public oyster area (Department of Health and Hospitals’ harvest area 30) shall open one-half hour before sunrise on October 15, 2010 and shall close one half-hour after sunset on November 14, 2010. The sack limit during this time period is set at 20 sacks per vessel per day. During this time, the east side of the Calcasieu Lake public oyster area (Department of Health and Hospitals’ harvest area 29) shall remain closed.

The oyster season in the Calcasieu Lake Public Oyster Area (Department of Health and Hospitals’ harvest areas 29 and 30) shall then reopen at one-half hour before sunrise on November 15, 2010 and shall close at one-half hour after sunset on April 30, 2011, except for the 2009 cultch plant within the following coordinates which shall remain closed:

2009 Cultch Plant in Calcasieu Lake - Cameron Parish
1. 29 degrees 50 minutes 36.930 seconds N latitude / 93 degrees 19 minutes 14.977 seconds W longitude
2. 29 degrees 50 minutes 33.787 seconds N latitude / 93 degrees 19 minutes 14.102 seconds W longitude
3. 29 degrees 50 minutes 34.266 seconds N latitude / 93 degrees 19 minutes 12.365 seconds W longitude
4. 29 degrees 50 minutes 31.840 seconds N latitude / 93 degrees 19 minutes 11.817 seconds W longitude
5. 29 degrees 50 minutes 32.893 seconds N latitude / 93 degrees 19 minutes 06.405 seconds W longitude
6. 29 degrees 50 minutes 34.263 seconds N latitude / 93 degrees 19 minutes 01.273 seconds W longitude
7. 29 degrees 50 minutes 39.274 seconds N latitude / 93 degrees 19 minutes 02.220 seconds W longitude
8. 29 degrees 50 minutes 39.047 seconds N latitude / 93 degrees 19 minutes 07.548 seconds W longitude

The sack limit for Calcasieu Lake during this time period is set at 10 sacks per vessel per day. However, these conservation actions shall not supersede public health closures.

The following areas will remain closed for the entire 2010/2011 oyster season:

• The Bay Gardene Public Oyster Seed Reservation (as described in R.S. 56:434.E);
• The 2009 cultch plants as described above in Three-Mile Bay, Black Bay, Lake Chien, Sister Lake, and Calcasieu Lake
• Barataria Bay Public Oyster Seed Grounds (as described in LAC 76:VII:517);
• Deep Lake Public Oyster Seed Grounds (as described in LAC 76:VII:517);
• Lake Tambour Public Oyster Seed Grounds (as described in LAC 76:VII:517);
• Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation (as described in R.S. 56:434.E); and
• Sabine Lake Public Oyster Area (as described in R.S. 56:435.1).

Public notice of any opening, delay, or closure of a season will be provided at least 72 hours prior to such action, unless such closure is ordered by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals for public health concerns.

2010-235 (August 5, 2010)
LDWF ANNOUNCES FALL SHRIMP SEASON

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the fall inshore shrimp season will open in Shrimp Management Zones 1, 2 and 3 at 6 AM, Monday, August 16. Season dates were approved today by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, following public comment and recommendations presented by Office of Fisheries biologists.

The closing date was also set by the commission for these waters at sunset December 21, 2010 except for the open waters of Breton and Chandeleur Sounds as described by the double-rig line (LA R.S.56:495.1(A)2) which will remain open to shrimping until 6 AM March 31, 2011.

Zone 1 includes Louisiana waters from the Mississippi border to the eastern shore of South Pass of the Mississippi River. Zone 2 extends from to the eastern shore of South Pass of the Mississippi River to the western shore of Vermilion Bay and Southwest Pass at Marsh Island and Zone 3 extends from the western shore of Vermilion Bay and Southwest Pass at Marsh Island to the Texas border.

Due to the ongoing effects associated the Deepwater Horizon incident, certain delineated areas within the Pontchartrain, Barataria and Terrebonne Basins will remain closed to all commercial fishing, including shrimp harvesting, until further notice.

Click here to view a map detailing closed areas

Louisiana is the number one domestic producer of shrimp with 2009 landings totaling over 100 million pounds, with a dockside value of $118 million.

2010-236 (August 5, 2010)
LOUISIANA WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES COMMISSION ANNOUNCES OPENING OF SEATROUT SEASON

Today the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission announced the commercial season for the harvest of spotted seatrout will open on August 15, 2010. This fishery is set to remain open until the maximum annual quota is reached, or on the date projected by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that the quota will be reached, or until sunset on Friday December 31, 2010, whichever comes first.

Act 979 of the 2010 Louisiana Regular Legislative Session modified the season for the commercial harvest of spotted seatrout using a commercial rod and reel.

Also included in Act 979, and effective with the implementation of that act and these rules, the commercial taking or commercial harvesting of spotted sea trout shall be prohibited within Louisiana waters west of the Mermentau River.

2010-232 (August 4, 2010)
L.D.W.F. AGENTS ARREST TWO MEN FOR FALSIFYING TRIP TICKET DOCUMENTS

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents with the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) arrested two New Iberia men on Aug. 3 for allegedly falsifying trip ticket information and booked them into the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail.

An Ly, 36, owner of Ly Ly Seafood, and Samith Huynh, 31, allegedly falsified trip ticket documents from January through April of this year in order to file a claim with BP America due to the Transocean Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Ly and Huynh were charged for filing false public records and injuring public records. Huynh was also charged with theft by fraud, and Ly was charged with conspiracy to commit theft by fraud. All charges against the men are classified as felonies.

The trip tickets were filed with LDWF on June 15 and July 7 and represented 6,347 pounds of crabs with a value of $9,548.91.

SIU agents met with Ly and Huynh on July 28 after receiving a complaint from the department's trip ticket section. According to the arrest warrant, both men admitted they did not sell or purchase any crabs after agents told the men that Huynh did not possess a commercial fishing license from January through April of this year. Huynh did purchase his commercial fishing license at the department in May.

Ly stated that he signed and mailed the trip tickets to LDWF headquarters in Baton Rouge after Huynh filled them out. Huynh stated that he received checks from BP America for $5,000 in May and $5,000 in June according to the arrest warrant.

If convicted, both could face fines up to $5,000 and up to five years in jail with or without hard labor for each charge of falsifying and injuring public records. For the conspiracy to commit theft by fraud and theft by fraud charges, both face fines up to $10,000 and up to 10 years in jail with or without hard labor.

"We want to ensure our commercial fishermen and dealers are compensated fairly by using accurate trip ticket information," said Col. Winton Vidrine, head of LDWF's Enforcement Division. "We do not want to see commercial fishermen or dealers tempted to commit felony violations by falsifying trip ticket documents."

LDWF routinely reviews every trip ticket received from the commercial fishing industry to ensure that the most accurate data are collected and properly reflect the important role the state of Louisiana plays in the production of seafood.

These reviews are critical to ensure that commercial fishermen and wholesale/retail dealers are appropriately credited with landings in the event of compensation that results from a natural disaster such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and the current BP America oil spill.

BP America is requesting commercial fishermen to provide landings information from 2007-10 to determine eligibility for financial assistance. LDWF is providing a landings data report back to commercial fishermen, when requested, to assist with this eligibility process.

The review of trip tickets has become even more critical during this time period considering that the previous years are being used to establish eligibility for assistance. Any trip tickets from previous years are being subjected to another layer of review by LDWF staff to confirm their validity.

"The information provided on a trip ticket is the best way for the department to establish the value of Louisiana fisheries and the importance of those fisheries to the nation. Trip ticket data also plays a key role in the managing of fisheries in Louisiana to ensure sustainability," said Michelle Kasprzak, LDWF Trip Ticket Program administrator. "We ask that trip tickets be completed accurately and submitted on time as required. Inaccurate or embellished trip tickets will be investigated by the department's Law Enforcement Division."

Trip tickets are filled out at the first point of sale between a commercial fisherman and wholesale/retail dealer or fresh product license holder and are due on the 10th of every month. Trip tickets are then entered into LDWFs Trip Ticket Program's database.

Commercial fishermen and wholesale/retail dealers may request their trip ticket landings by following the instructions on the LDWF Web site at www.wlf.louisiana.gov/oilspill or calling the trip ticket section at 225-765-2399.