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 Code Title 51 Part IX and NSSP guidelines.

Highlighted Facts

• Louisiana has approximately eight million acres of classified shellfish growing areas. Of the eight million acres, 1.2 million acres are classified as prohibited.
• Shellfish growing areas are reclassified four times each year. These reclassification periods are November through February, March through April, May through August, and September through October.
• Two shellfish growing areas are conditionally managed based on the river stage of the Calcasieu River. These two areas are the West Cove Conditionally Managed Area and the Lower Calcasieu Lake Conditionally Managed Area.
• Louisiana is the top producer of oysters in the nation.
• Each and every day, 1.3 million Louisiana-produced oysters are consumed somewhere in the US.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Effective official sunset on March 14, 2026, Basin 12 is CLOSED to oyster harvesting. This is a precautionary closure based on the reporting of oil sheen in these areas from the recent LOOP oil spill. LDH will monitor the unfolding situation and utilize testing to determine a re-opening date.

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The March-April 2026 Reclassificaton Line is now posted.

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Oyster Harvest Areas	Seasonal Reclassification Maps

Resources

• Permit to Relay Oysters
• Oyster Harvesting Brochure
• Out on the Water - Information regarding Vibrio vulnificus
• Louisiana Shellstock Refrigeration Rule - June 2014
  
• Refrigeration Requirements
• Alternative Oyster Culture (AOC) Tumbling Log
• Desiccation Log

Related Links

• Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference
• Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
• Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board

Contact

For more info, contact the Molluscan Shellfish Central Office at (225) 342-7653.