On April 19, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission convened a special meeting to consider setting the opening of the spring shrimp season in a portion of state inshore waters. The opening will be based on information provided by LDWF biologists and public comments.
The commission stated, "The portion of state inside waters from the eastern shore of South Pass of the Mississippi River westward to the western shore of Freshwater Bayou Canal to open at 6am on May 1, 2023."
Trawl samples were conducted weekly throughout the state estuarine and nearshore waters since March. This helped develop management recommendations for the opening dates. Projections of the opening date were provided when a minimum of 50 percent of the inshore brown shrimp stock samples reached sizes of 100 count per pound or larger.
The commission has granted authority to the Secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to delay this opening date if biological and technical data indicate a need to do so.
Opening dates for the remaining state inshore waters for the 2023 spring shrimp season will be considered by the commission at its May 4 meeting.
For more information visit the Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries or contact Peyton Cagle at (337) 491-2213 or [email protected]
