The Daily Advertiser

A crawfish named Emile became the luckiest crawfish in south Louisiana Tuesday when he was officially pardoned by the lieutenant governor.

To "officially kick off crawfish season," Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, Zatarain's and representatives of the Louisiana Seafood Board and Department of Wildlife & Fisheries held a pardoning ceremony for Emile the crawfish in New Orleans at the Louisiana State Museum Old U.S. Mint.

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The official proclamation — sealed and signed by Nungesser — pardoning Emile the crawfish says, "Louisiana recognizes that a turkey shouldn't be the only animal to get a second chance, and the Tuesday after Mardi Gras shall now be known as the Annual Pardoning of the Crawfish."

As a result of his pardon, Emile, "shall be free from being served in any boil, etouffee, po'boy or dish imagined by any chef or Cajun, and shall be free from water any hotter than in the beautiful swamps and bayous of Louisiana."