Location
Key Information
| 63 km2 | MARINE AREA |
| 203 km2 | TOTAL AREA i |
Boundary: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Unmodified)
2.0
February 2024
Feedback and Data Requests
Purpose
To preserve and protect the Delta, the winter home for hundreds of thousands of snow geese, coots and ducks.
Species of Concern: American alligator, Arctic peregrine falcon, Piping plover, Brown Pelican
Regulations Summary
Restrictions
1. Commercial fishing is prohibited.
2. Recreational finfishing and shellfishing is prohibited except on designated areas of the refuge.
3. Trotlines, limb lines, slat traps, gar sets, hoop and gillnets or alligator lines are prohibited.
4. During state waterfowl season, all public entry is prohibited between Main Pass and Raphael Pass and recreational finfishing and shellfishing is only allowed from 2 p.m. until 1⁄2 hour after legal sunset.
5. Except as provided elsewhere in the regulations, disturbing, injuring, spearing, poisoning, destroying, collecting or attempting to disturb, injure, spear, poison, destroy or collect any plant or animal on any national wildlife refuge is prohibited.
6. The use of boats is prohibited except where specifically authorized under federal regulations and subject to state and federal law, including but not limited to the following requirements:
(a) No person shall operate a boat on refuge waters that has a marine head (toilet) unless it conforms to Environmental Protection Agency regulations regarding sewage discharge.
(b) Every sailboat when underway from sunset to sunrise shall carry and exhibit a bright white light visible all around the horizon for a distance of two miles.
(c) Leaving any boat unattended, outside of designated mooring or beaching areas, for a period in excess of 72 hours without written permission of the refuge manager is prohibited.
(d) Government-owned docks, piers, and floats are not to be used for loading and unloading of boats, except in emergencies or unless specifically authorized by the refuge manager.
Allowed
Except as provided in the Restrictions section, recreational finfishing and shellfishing is allowed from 1⁄2 hour before legal sunrise until 1⁄2 hour after legal sunset in designated areas in accordance with state fishing laws.