BILOXI, Miss. – The executive directors of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, in an abundance of caution, are closing an additional portion of Mississippi’s territorial marine waters, effective immediately to all commercial and recreational fishing, including all species of finfish, crabs, shrimp and oysters.
The closed area includes all Mississippi marine territorial waters starting at a point on the shoreline at 89° 13’ west longitude in Pass Christian; running due south to a point on 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 southeasterly, 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 the beginning point on the shoreline at 89° 13’ west longitude in Pass Christian. Any individuals retaining any marine species from this closed area will be required to immediately return them to the waters. There is no catch and release fishing allowed in the closed area.
This precautionary closure is a result of oil sightings in this general area and the potential impacts on Mississippi’s coastal marine resources. The continuous monitoring of this situation is to ensure public safety and protection of Mississippi’s coastal resources.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving marine interests of the state by managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational, educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes.
Sources: Mississippi Department of Marine Resources