Federal authorities opened 5,628 square miles of water in the Gulf of Mexico today (Oct. 1) to all fishing to coincide with the opening of the special red snapper season that began today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reported.
Click here for a map showing the newly reopened waters, along with the remaining closures.
This latest action, which reopens much of the Gulf west of the Mississippi River, brings the amount of open Gulf water to 89 percent, the agency said in a news release.
“The (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) reopening of additional federal waters today is the seventh reopening since July 22,” the news release reads. “Federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico are now 89 percent open. NOAA reports that no oil or sheen has been documented in the area since Aug. 6.”
Snapper season is open each Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Nov. 21 at which time it will close until June 1, 2011.
”This may also help boost launches, marinas and private camps out of Grand Isle, Cocodrie and Venice, as they both provide close access to the newly opened area,” the LDWF news release reports.
NOAA officials chose to reopen the season for red snapper due to the significant fishing closures issued this summer as a result of the Deepwater Horizon incident. Figures suggest the recreational red snapper quota was not met at the July 24, 2010 closure date and that approximately 2.3 million pounds of the 3.4 million pound quota remains.
All regulations established for recreational harvest of red snapper will be in effect for this special season.
Click here for additional information on the NOAA reopening.
