Molluscan Shellfish Program

The Molluscan Shellfish Program is the regulatory agency for the oyster harvesting waters along Louisiana Gulf Coast. The harvesting areas are set forth by the Louisiana Sanitary Code and the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP). The NSSP is the federal/state cooperative program recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) for the sanitary control of shellfish produced and sold for human consumption. All oyster-related facilities must follow Louisiana Administrative Code Title 51 Part IX and NSSP guidelines.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

LDH re-opens oyster leases: 3386924, 3307523, 3054322, 3051922, 3348423, 3349923, and 2742114 at 30 minutes before sunrise on Saturday April 5th, 2025 after being closed on February 4th, 2025 due to recondtioning of a molluscan shellfish recall. These leases will revert back to the March/April 2025 classification at that time. The order is linked here. 

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Oyster Harvest Areas	Seasonal Reclassification Maps

Resources

• Louisiana Oysters are Safe to Eat
• Oyster Testing and Baseline Samples
  
• Sensory Training
  
• Other Highlighted Facts
• Molluscan Shellfish News
• Out on the Water - Information regarding Vibrio vulnificus
• Louisiana Shellstock Refrigeration Rule - June 2014
  
• Refrigeration Requirements
• Oyster Harvesting Brochure

Related Links

• Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference
• Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
• Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board

Contact

For more info, contact the Molluscan Shellfish Central Office at (225) 342-7653.