Inshore shrimp season to close on west side of state July 15, LDWF says

Inside waters within Mermentau, Calcasieu and Sabine River Basins set to close at 6 p.m. Friday

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the 2016 spring inshore shrimp season on the western side of the state will close at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 15.

This action closes shrimping in inside waters within the Mermentau, Calcasieu and Sabine Rivers Basins extending from the western shore of Freshwater Bayou Canal westward to the Louisiana/Texas state line.

Effective with this closure, all state inside waters will be closed to shrimping except for the open waters of Mississippi Sound and Breton and Chandeleur Sounds as described by the double–rig line in R.S. 56:495.1(A)2.  All state outside waters seaward of the Inside/Outside shrimp line will remain open to shrimp harvesting until further notice.

Data collected in recent weeks by LDWF biologists indicate increased quantity, distribution and percentages of small white shrimp within these waters, so the decision was made to close the season to allow those developing shrimp the opportunity to reach more marketable sizes.

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission will meet August 4th to consider opening dates for the fall inshore shrimp season.

For a map detailing areas that remain open to shrimping, click here.