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 CodeTitle 51 Part IX and NSSP guidelines.

SPECIAL NOTE: 

 The Texas Department of State Health Services has ordered a recall of all oysters harvested in the TX 1 area of southeastern Galveston Bay after reports of a few dozen cases of gastrointestinal illness among people who ate oysters from those waters.  The recall includes oysters in the shell and shucked oysters harvested in the area from November 17^th through December 7^th.  A map of Galveston Bay oyster areas is available at dshs.texas.gov/seafood/MapsPDF/ShellfishClassificationMaps/Galvestoncombined2022.pdf.

More information can be found at https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/DSHS-Recalls-Oysters-Harvested-Area-Southeastern-Galveston-Bay/

 The  March April 2023 Seasonal Reclassification is posted for comments

Please send all questions and comments to chris.lemaire@la.gov or jennifer.armentor@la.gov 

Select the Seasonal Reclassification map to the right and select the frame of interest. Click on the MARCH APRIL  2023 link below to view the next reclassification period using GIS ONLINE web app. Select the XY tool button to get the Latitude and Longitude coordinates. DEADLINE TO SUBMIT  COMMENTS REGARDING  THE PLACEMENT OF THE SEASONAL CLASSIFICATION LINE IS FEBRUARY 20, 2023. 

MARCH APRIL 2023

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