The Louisiana Department of Health announced today the reopening of oyster harvest Areas 1-12, with exception of harvest Area 8, which are located from Lake Borgne in St. Bernard Parish to Barataria Bay in Jefferson Parish, effective a half an hour before sunrise October 8. Harvest Area 8, near the mouth of the Mississippi river, has been closed since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The decision to reopen came after Tropical Storm Karen had little or no impact on these harvest areas. Last week, LDH issued an order closing Areas 1-23 as a precautionary measure in advance of Tropical Storm Karen. LDH reopened harvest Areas 13 -23 Sunday morning.
Today's action rescinds the closure order, allowing oystermen to resume operations in the Harvest Areas that were open prior to the storm.
LDH State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry signed the order today to reopen Areas 1-12.
Water standards for oyster harvesting are set by the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference. LDH has the authority to close these waters under LSA-R.S. 40:5, 3.