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 adhere to the NSSP.

June 6, 2020 Update

The State Health Officer has signed a precautionary closure order for specified shellfish growing areas to be effective a half-hour after sunset on June 7, 2020. A copy of the order with detailed information may be found here.

Maps for the May-August 2020 Seasonal Reclassification

Select the Seasonal Reclassification map to the right and select the frame of interest. Click on the May August 2020 link to view the reclassification period using ESRI's web app. Select the XYZ icon to get the Latitude and Longitude coordinates.

Click Here for Louisiana Shellstock Refrigeration Rule

Resources

• Molluscan Shellfish News
• Out on the Water - Information regarding Vibrio vulnificus
• Louisiana Shellstock Refrigeration Rule - June 2014
  
• Refrigeration Requirements
• Oyster Harvesting Brochure

Related LinksInterstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference: http://www.issc.org/
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov
Louisiana Seafood Promotion Board: http://www.louisianaseafood.com/

For more information:

Molluscan Shellfish Central OfficePhone: (225) 342-7653

Gordon LeBlanc, R.S.
Phone: (225) 342-7539
Job Title: Molluscan Shellfish / Commercial Seafood Program Administrator
gordon.leblanc@la.gov

Christopher Lemaire, R.S.
Phone: (225) 342-7540
Job Title: Molluscan Shellfish Program Manager
chris.lemaire@la.gov