Molluscan Shellfish Resources

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals 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, DHH issued an order closing Areas 1-23 as a precautionary measure in advance of Tropical Storm Karen. DHH reopened harvest Areas 13 -23 Sunday morning.

The Department of Health and Hospitals will reopen oyster Harvest Area 11 one half hour prior to sunrise Saturday, March 16, 2013. This oyster bed is located west of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish. DHH closed the bed on February 27, 2013 due to an oil spill.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) moved quickly Friday to close a Cameron Parish molluscan shellfish harvesting area located in Basin 3, Area 30. This is a preventive health measure in response to people becoming ill after eating oysters harvested from that area. DHH also ordered a recall of all oysters harvested from that area since Dec. 28, 2012, including shucked, frozen, breaded, post-harvest processed and oysters for the half shell market.

The Department of Health and Hospitals - Office of Public Health (DHH/OPH) will reopen oyster Harvest Area 23 one half hour prior to sunrise Wednesday, May 30, 2012. This oyster bed is located in Terrebonne parish waters. DHH closed the bed on May 8, 2012 due to a Norovirus outbreak linked to oysters from Area 23.