LDWF Secretary Robert Barham announced the following closure to recreational and commercial fishing in southern Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes and a reopening of the territorial seas south of Marsh Island to recreational and commercial fishing effective May 28.

Lower Lafourche and Terrebonne Closure
The closure is in effect in the portion of state inside waters south of 29 degrees 30 minutes 00 seconds north latitude from the western shore of Bayou Lafourche westward to the eastern shore of Bayou Terrebonne and south to 29 degrees 21 minutes 00 seconds north latitude.  This closure is effective May 28, 2010 due to confirmed reports of oil.

Territorial Seas Reopening
The reopening includes state outside waters extending seaward of the inside/outside shrimp line from South Point of Marsh Island at 91 degrees 45 minutes 48 seconds west longitude westward to the eastern shore of Freshwater Bayou at 92 degrees 18 minutes 27 seconds west longitude. This area will open immediately, May 28.

Precautionary closures of recreational and commercial fishing have been implemented based on the best information the Secretary of the Department receives from field biologists, staff and trajectory models from NOAA.

Once reports of oil are received, LDWF initiates a field survey and immediate seafood testing in the suspected areas.  Closures are subsequently made with the intent to be as safe as possible, while not closing any fishing areas unnecessarily.  As test results come back clearing the area, effected waters are then reopened.

LDWF continues to work closely with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to conduct coast-wide sampling of fish, crabs and shrimp, to ensure all seafood harvested from the Gulf is a safe, quality product.

All other closures remain in place.

For a map detailing these actions, see the links below :

 *   Click here to see the full map:  http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/pdfs/news/FISHING-CLOSURE.jpg
 *   Click here for detailed sheet 1:  http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/pdfs/news/DETAIL-SHEET-1.jpg
 *   Click here for detailed sheet 2:  http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/pdfs/news/DETAIL-SHEET-2.jpg

For more information related to the oil spill, visit http://www.emergency.louisiana.gov. Connect with us on www.facebook.com/GOHSEP and on Twitter @GOHSEP. View photos in from the state's response efforts at http://www.flickr.com/photos/lagohsep.