New oyster cargo permit helps boats

(AP) – Large oyster boats with big refrigerators will be able to pick up oysters from unrefrigerated small boats in Louisiana waters to help them meet a federal rule for summer oysters meant to be eaten raw.

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says the Food and Drug Administration requires that oysters harvested in the summer for raw consumption must be refrigerated within five hours after harvest.

Wildlife and Fisheries will issue oyster cargo vessel permits to large boats with on-board refrigerators. Those boats will able to take tagged containers of oysters from smaller unrefrigerated boats that cannot get to shore within five hours, and deliver them to the dock.

The emergency rule setting up the permits will go into effect June 24.

It will be in effect through October.