Breaking: Louisiana Closes Oyster Harvest in Drum Bay and Shell Point as Mortality Event unfolds
Louisiana wildlife officials have ordered emergency closures of oyster harvesting in select public seed grounds east of the Mississippi River, north of the Mississippi river Gulf Outlet, and within the LDH Shellfish Harvest Area 3. The restrictions take effect one-half hour after sunset on Monday, December 22, 2025, aimed at safeguarding remaining oyster resources amid a localized mortality event and intense harvest pressure.
What Areas Are Affected
Drum Bay – St. Bernard Parish
The Drum Bay closure targets the public oyster seed grounds in the Drum Bay area, bounded to the north by latitude 29° 51′ 58″ N and to the west by longitude 89° 14′ 08″ W.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and fisheries (LDWF) cites recent biological sampling showing a localized mortality event on these reefs and harvest surveys indicating heavy extraction.Officials say the restrictions are necessary to pad the resource’s growth potential for future harvests and to prevent further long-term resource decline.
Shell Point (2009) – St. Bernard Parish
The Shell Point closure encompasses the public oyster seed grounds within a four-point coordinate boundary:
- 30° 01′ 15.89″ N, 89° 21′ 19.51″ W
- 30° 01′ 11.42″ N, 89° 21′ 12.30″ W
- 30° 01′ 29.77″ N, 89° 20′ 52.48″ W
- 30° 01′ 34.63″ N,89° 20′ 58.81″ W
Monitoring shows the Shell Point reef has reached the recommended harvest threshold in this section of the public seed grounds east of the Mississippi River. The closure is intended to protect remaining oysters and allow recovery for future harvesting opportunities. The LDWF notes that continued commercial harvesting could threaten long-term sustainability, and that safeguarding these resources serves the public oyster seed grounds’ broader health.
These measures apply solely to the Drum Bay area and the Shell Point reef within the state’s public oyster seed grounds. Other public oyster areas opened to market-size oyster harvest ( oysters at least 3 inches) on November 3, 2025, remain unaffected, and the closures do not impact any state oyster leases.
Scope and Context
The closed zones cover roughly 1,565 acres of natural reef and 278 acres of cultch plant reef. As the season began on November 3, approximately 35,662 sacks of oysters have been harvested in these areas. Louisiana’s oyster production in 2024 totaled about 991,264 sacks, wiht the majority harvested on leased state water bottoms.
The Drum Bay area is slated for reassessment later in the season. If a considerable harvestable resource is identified and the mortality event subsides, reopening could occur before the season’s end on April 1, 2025. Officials emphasize that such events are uncommon and likely result from multiple stressors, including extended high salinity, oyster drill predation, and turbidity from concentrated harvesting.
for a map of the current closures, refer to the LDWF oyster season page: www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/oyster-season.
State leadership under Secretary Tyler M. Bosworth has broad authority to enact emergency closures or reopen areas as data and conditions warrant. Any opening, delay, or closure will be publicly announced at least 72 hours in advance, unless public health concerns require earlier action as directed by the Louisiana Department of Health.
For additional details, contact robert Caballero at (504) 286-4054 or [email protected].
key Facts at a Glance
| Area | Parish | Closure Details | Effective Time | Size (acres) | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drum Bay | St. bernard Parish | Public oyster seed grounds north of 29° 51′ 58″ N and west of 89° 14′ 08″ W | One-half hour after sunset, Dec 22, 2025 | Combined closure area includes 1,565 acres natural reefs and 278 acres cultch | Localized mortality; heavy harvest pressure |
| Shell Point | St. Bernard Parish | Public seed grounds within coordinates forming a four-point boundary (see list above) | One-half hour after sunset, Dec 22, 2025 | Combined closure area includes 1,565 acres natural reefs and 278 acres cultch | Harvest-threshold met; resource protection |
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