Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Robert Barham announced that all areas west of the Mississippi River are open to recreational and commercial fishing, including shrimping, with the exception of the areas listed below, effective at noon today, May 10, 2010.

• All state inside waters north of the inside/outside shrimp line from the eastern shore of the Empire Canal at 89 degrees 36 minutes 19.9 seconds west longitude eastward to the Mississippi River

• The portion of state inside waters south of 29 degrees 13 minutes 12 seconds north latitude from the western shore of Bayou Lafourche westward to the western shore of Oyster Bayou at 91 degrees 07 minutes 53 seconds west longitude

• All state outside waters extending seaward of the inside/outside shrimp line from the Mississippi River westward to the eastern portion of Atchafalaya Bay at Pointe au Fer Island at 91 degrees 20 minutes 44 seconds west longitude

There have been no changes to recreational or commercial fishing closures east of the Mississippi River. Last week recreational and commercial fishing was closed in this area, excluding the coastal boundaries of Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas and Chef and Rigoletes Passes.

Based on the presence of juvenile shrimp, the shrimp season remains closed in Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain, and in the Chef and Rigoletes Passes.

Editors: For more information contact Laura Deslatte at 225.610.2363 or ldeslatte@wlf.la.gov.