Oil spill in ‘first inning of nine-inning game,’ Overton explains
State offshore waters between Red and Chaland passes were shut down to all fishing at sunrise this morning (May 20), the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced late last night. This latest closure in lower Plaquemines Parish, which does not include inshore waters, was enacted without explanation.
Click here to view the current LDWF closure map.
The LDWF action includes 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, eastward to the mouth of Red Pass at 89 degrees 28 minutes 13.4 seconds west longitude.
All other closures remain in place.
At the same time, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced last night that “heavy, black oil” from the Deepwater Horizon spill has made landfall on Fourchon beach and that cleanup already had begun.
Ironically, the beach remains open to fishing – at least according to the LDWF. However, it is likely anglers will be turned away as the oil is cleaned up.