The fall inshore shrimp season in Louisiana, USA, is set to conclude on Monday, marking the end of shrimping activities in all state inside waters, except for specific locations east of the Mississippi River. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced that the closure, scheduled at sunset, will exempt certain areas, including Lake Pontchartrain, the Chef Menteur and Rigolets Passes, Lake Borgne, Mississippi Sound, Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, a section of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in Orleans parish, and the open waters of the Breton and Chandeleur Sounds.

Recent sampling efforts have revealed that the average size of white shrimp within significant portions of state inside waters falls below the minimum possession count permitted by law. This observation has led the department to implement the closure in order to safeguard the smaller white shrimp and create an opportunity for their growth, as stated in a news release issued on Thursday.

While the fall inshore shrimp season comes to a close in specific areas, all state outside waters seaward of the Inside/Outside Shrimp Line will remain open for shrimping until further notice, according to the department. Ongoing monitoring will persist in the remaining open areas, and the department will act accordingly, closing them when deemed biologically appropriate, as highlighted in the news release. Shrimpers are advised to stay informed about any updates regarding the status of these open waters to ensure compliance with regulations.