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All fishing in state offshore waters between Chaland and Barataria passes, along with the entirity of Terrebonne and Timbalier bays, ends today (May 21) at sunset, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced.
These latest closures were enacted after confirmed reports of oil in these areas.
Click here to see the current map of state closures.
Closed are:
• State territorial seas seaward of the inside-outside shrimp line from the eastern shore of Chaland Pass at 89 degrees 44 minutes 06.3 seconds west longitude to the eastern shore of Barataria Pass at 89 degrees 56 minutes 44 seconds west longitude, and
This closure ends fishing on all the Gulf-side island beaches from Belle Pass to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
• Inshore waters from the western shore of Bayou Lafourche westward to 90 degrees 40 minutes 00 seconds west longitude north of 29 degrees 10 minutes 16 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 14 minutes 00 seconds north latitude.
The inshore closure means that Terrebbone and Timbalier bays are now completely closed to fishing, as is about half of Lake Raccourci and the southern-most portion of Lake Barre. Tambour Bay also will shut down.
The LDWF said in its release that closures could be reconsidered as testing shows waters have cleared.
All other closures previously announced remain in effect.
