Tagged: department of wildlife and fisheries

State officials are still working to determine what killed two whales found on Louisiana beaches after Hurricane Isaac.

They also are trying to determine the whales' species.

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said in an email Tuesday that both whales were badly decomposed, making it difficult to tell the species.

One whale, found at Belle Pass, was more than 8 feet long. The one at Grand Isle was about 10 feet long. Samples were taken from both whales in hopes of determining what killed them.

State wildlife and fisheries agents have arrested a Bridge City man for alleged commercial finfish violations, ending a three-year investigation into the illegal sale of red snapper.

Agents cited 26-year-old Yoan C. Hernandez on Sunday.

All of the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area in St. Tammany Parish is now open but access via Old Highway 11 will remain closed until Thursday because of flooding and damage from Hurricane Isaac.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reopened areas north of Interstate 10 on Tuesday.

It had reopened areas south of I-10 earlier.

The department says it is repairing Old Highway 11.

Elm Hall in Assumption Parish and Elmer's Island in Jefferson Parish remain closed because of debris removal and storm damage affecting vehicle access.

___

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has reopened the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area, which closed before Hurricane Isaac's landfall.

The area in Ascension, Livingston, St. James and St. John the Baptist parishes reopened Monday.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologists are assessing the impact of Hurricane Isaac on deer populations in parishes flooded by the storm.

Biologists say flooding killed some deer. Aerial, waterborne and ground surveys of the storm's overall impact on deer will continue through September.

Data collected will be used to develop recommendations for possible changes to the upcoming deer season. Such proposals would be presented to the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission for consideration at its Oct. 4 meeting.