Oysters thrive in Louisiana’s estuaries, the coastal waters where salt and fresh water mix, and provide important economic and environmental value to the state. Not only does Louisiana continually lead the nation in oyster production, the state also benefits from the ecological services oysters provide. Oyster reefs help stabilize shorelines and improve water quality through filter feeding. They also provide habitat for a variety of invertebrates and fish, including a number of top recreational species.
For nearly 150 years, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has successfully managed the state’s public resource ton continually supply both oysters to the market and for cultivation on private grounds. Each summer, LDWF biologists dive on the state’s public oyster reefs, collecting oysters from multiple sample areas and recording data about the oysters. They determine how many oysters there are, their location and their overall health. Throughout the year, biologists also sample oyster reefs with dredges to monitor the health of the oyster resource and assess the growth and survival of new born oysters. Biologists gather hydrological and climatic data on oysters reefs and use side-scan sonar technology to assess the water bottom and evaluate the size and area of oyster reefs. LDWF monitors commercial harvests of oysters through a trip ticket program and by boarding boats to survey fishermen and get estimate of catch and fishing effort during the oyster season. LDWF does not collect data on recreational harvests as recreational fishermen rarely harvest oysters. All of this information is key for accurately assessing the oyster population and estimating valuable oyster habitat.
Managers use information from oyster assessments to predict oyster harvests and set oyster seasons. Managers focus on controlling harvests, sustaining productive oyster populations and maintaining and restoring oyster reef habitat.
In addition to regulations such as size and harvest limits, LDWF’s oyster management program includes depositing hard material such as oyster shells, limestone and crushed concrete to increase oyster habitat and provide a place for free-swimming oyster larvae to attach, settle and grow as well as enhancing natural oyster populations with hatchery-raised oyster larvae and spat, or baby oysters.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals also has a big role in oyster management. Oysters are filter feeders and can accumulate contaminants and microorganisms present in the water, which can in turn affect people who eat raw or under-processed contaminated oysters. LDHH strictly regulates the harvesting, handling, processing and shipping of oysters to ensure they are safe to eat.
For regulations information, click HERE.
Additional information is available here.
