BILOXI, Miss. – The executive directors of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, have issued an emergency order requiring the removal of all crab traps effective 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 28, 2010 from Mississippi territorial marine waters, which were already under precautionary closure to all commercial and recreational fishing, including all species of finfish, crabs, shrimp and oysters, as described:
The closed area includes all Mississippi marine territorial waters starting at a point on the shoreline at the Mississippi/Louisiana State line; running easterly, following the southern boundary of Mississippi territorial waters, to the intersection with the Mississippi/Alabama State line; running due north, along the Mississippi/Alabama state boundary, to the CSX railroad; running southwesterly, along the CSX railroad, to a point due north of the Bayou Casotte Ship Channel; running due south to 30° 21’ north latitude; running due west, following the 30° 21’ north latitude line, to a point of intersection with the mainland shoreline on the east side of Bellefontaine Point; westerly and northerly, following the meandering of the shoreline, to the tip of Marsh Point; running due north, to a point on the mainland shoreline; running westerly and northerly, following the meanderings of the shoreline, to the eastern abutment of the CSX railroad bridge; running southwesterly, following the CSX railroad bridge across Biloxi Bay, to a point on the mainland shoreline at the western abutment of the CSX railroad bridge at Biloxi Bay; running westerly following the meanderings of the shoreline to eastern abutment of the CSX Railroad Bridge over St. Louis Bay; thence running westerly along the CSX railroad bridge to the western abutment of the CSX Railroad Bridge over St. Louis Bay; running southwesterly following the meanderings of the shoreline to the mouth of Bayou Caddy; running due West to the mouth of Bayou Caddy; running southwesterly following the meanderings of the shoreline to the Mississippi-Louisiana state boundary.
This crab trap removal requirement is a result of oil sightings in this general area and the potential impacts on Mississippi’s coastal marine resources. Any individuals retaining any marine species from the closed area will be required to immediately return them to the waters. The continuous monitoring of this situation is to ensure public safety and protection of Mississippi’s coastal resources.
Please contact the DMR Shrimp and Crab Bureau at 228-374-5000 with any questions or concerns.
Source: Mississippi Department of Marine Resources