Molluscan Shellfish News

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will hold a series of public meetings next week to provide critical information on current rules and changes that will affect the oyster harvesting, dealing and processing communities in Louisiana.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals will be holding two public meetings to discuss RS 56:437 and RS 40:5.3.1, which govern the sale of oysters for raw consumption within the state, as they pertain to the oyster industry. State Health Officer, Dr. Jimmy Guidry, will be on hand to provide information and answer questions.

Officials with the Department of Health and Hospitals and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries signed orders this week to allow oyster harvesting in an 11,993 acre area of Calcasieu Lake, which previously had high fecal coliform counts. Recent tests conducted by DHH have shown the levels of fecal coliform are now below levels of any concern for health.

More oyster harvest areas closed as a result of the Gulf oil spill have been cleared to reopen.

BATON ROUGE — More oyster harvest areas closed as a result of the Gulf oil spill have been cleared to reopen. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals announced today the reopening of oyster harvesting areas 11, 21 and 23 after working with officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other state and federal partners.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals announced today the partial closure of oyster harvesting Area 12. The partial closure comes in response to continued oil cleanup in portions of this oyster harvesting area and is consistent with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries closure of the same area.

Two of the first oyster harvest areas closed as a result of the Gulf oil spill have been cleared to reopen. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals announced today the reopening of oyster harvesting areas 12 and 13 after working with officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other state and federal partners.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals announced today the reopening of oyster harvesting Area 19 after working with officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other state and federal partners.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals announced today the reopening of oyster harvesting areas 2, 3, 14, 15 and 17 after working with officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other state and federal partners.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals announced today the partial reopening of oyster harvesting areas 14, 15 and 17 after working with officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other state and federal partners.