Fishing

$2 million announced for cultch plant, industry leaders focus on frustrations with claims process

April 15, 2011 - Officials with the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries held a press conference today with leaders from the oyster industry to highlight BP's failure to follow through on emergency restoration work to help the industry recover from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that began nearly one year ago. LDWF Assistant Secretary Randy Pausina announced an additional $2 million in funding for a cultch plant on public seed grounds; that announcement brings the total state funds committed to emergency restoration projects for the oyster industry to $4 million.

"Louisiana's coastal area provides vital nursery grounds for more than 90 percent of Gulf species and the health of the Gulf as a whole is dependent on Louisiana's marshes and estuaries," said Garret Graves, chairman of the CPRA. "The impact to our citizen's way of life has been dramatic, leaving the good people of our oyster industry hurting after generations of harvesting this incredible resource."

"While BP is busy spending millions on advertising to prove that they are following through on their promise to make the oyster industry and all of our coastal fisheries whole, they have neglected to follow through on numerous projects that could have helped our oyster men and women get back to work," said Pausina. "While we still plan to press BP to fund $15 million for improvements to oyster grounds, including additional cultch plants and innovative farming techniques, we have been shaking out the couches at our agency looking for funds to help ensure a healthy spat set. The $2 million we are announcing today, along with an early commitment for $2 million, is a small step in the right direction. We fully intended to seek reimbursement for the total $4 million. BP is still the responsible party, and it is time they starting acting like it."

"It is imperative that we begin aggressively rehabilitating Louisiana's oyster resources so that the oyster community is able to return to normal operations sooner rather than later," said Mike Voisin, owner of Motivatit Seafood and member of the Governor's Oyster Advisory Committee.

"I am angry that BP has not followed through with their commitment to reseed the public oyster grounds and that the  Gulf Coast Claims Facility has failed to compensate fairly the oystermen that were hurt by the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster," Al Sunseri, owner of P&J Oysters and member of the Governor's Oyster Advisory Committee.

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority are among the natural resource trustees charged with assessing and ensuring that BP restores the natural resources of the State of Louisiana. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.

For additional information please call Olivia Watkins at LDWF at (225) 610-8660 or email at owatkins@wlf.la.gov, or Andrea Recher at (225) 229-5126 or andrear.Taylor@la.gov.

Phase 1 of bridge deconstruction on Lake Pontchartrain complete

April 12, 2011 – The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has successfully completed the first phase of the conversion of the old Twin Spans into artificial reef habitat.  Portions of the old bridges were recycled in a unique way to provide continuing service to the public. 

The four-acre reef is located between the new I-10 bridge and Highway 11 (Latitude 30° 10.169’ Longitude 89° 50.744’).  The corners of the reef are marked by four yellow illuminated marker buoys. 

Sixty spans were dismantled, processed and deployed as reef material.  In addition to providing hard bottom habitat for bottom-dwelling organisms, the reef will create a valuable fish habitat for popular recreational species including redfish, speckled trout, croakers, sheepshead and drum. 

The creation of the artificial reef is the culmination of partnership between LDWF, Department of Transportation and Development, Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana and NOAA Office of Coast Survey. 

“Increasing habitat for finfish will provide greater sport fishing opportunities on Lake Pontchartrain, which will ultimately benefit the economy in attracting people to the area,” said LDWF Assistant Secretary Randy Pausina. “And we’re able to do so utilizing materials that would typically be sent to a landfill.”
The second phase of the bridge demolition is currently underway.  Forty-two spans from the old Twin Spans will be used to create an additional four-acre reef. 

Since its creation in 1986, the department’s Artificial Reef Program has developed 28 reefs in Louisiana’s inshore waters.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.

For more information contact Ashley Wethey at awethey@wlf.la.gov (225) 765-5113. 

Over 99 percent of state waters now opened for fishing

April 11, 2011 - Today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, in coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, ordered an emergency reopening of commercial fishing in portions of state, inside waters within the Mississippi River Delta that were previously closed due to impacts from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill last year.

“While the effects of the oil spill will continue to affect our state for years to come, we are as confidant as ever in the safety of Louisiana’s seafood, the most-tested seafood in the world,” said LDWF Secretary Robert Barham. “Today marks an important step in the journey to a full recovery for fishermen who depend on these resources for their livelihood and I am happy to report that over 99 percent of Louisiana’s waters are open to fishing.”

Secretary Barham ordered this opening following the completion of comprehensive testing, after which the FDA advised that shrimp, crab and finfish tissue samples tested from these previously closed areas are safe for consumption.

Commercial fishing reopens immediately today in the portions of state inside waters between the eastern shore of Southwest Pass and the southern shore of North Pass of the Mississippi River. 

This reopening does not include shrimp harvesting, as the shrimp season in these waters has not been opened. 

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.

For more information, please contact Laura Deslatte at ldeslatte@wlf.la.gov or (225) 610-2363.

April 7, 2011 – Today, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Robert Barham announced two shrimp seasons.  There will be a special, five-day shrimp season in a portion of inside state waters.  Additionally, there will be an opening of state outside waters currently closed to shrimping.  Both seasons will open at 6:00 a.m. April 18, 2011.

Special Season
The five-day special shrimp season includes state inside waters from the eastern shore of Bayou Grand Caillou northward to the intersection of Bayou Grand Caillou and the Houma Navigation Canal, northward along the eastern shore of the Houma Navigation Canal westward to the western shore of Vermilion Bay and Southwest Pass at Marsh Island which will close to shrimping at 6 a.m. April 23. 

Re-opening
The opening of state outside waters includes those waters south of the inside/outside shrimp line.  This area begins from the U.S. Coast Guard navigational light at Caillou Boca westward to the western shore of Freshwater Bayou Canal.  These waters will remain open until further notice.

Recent data gathered by LDWF biologists, indicates that marketable shrimp are available for harvest in the designated areas. 

Preliminary LDWF trip ticket report data shows that 2010 Louisiana shrimp landings (all species combined/heads-on weight) totaled approximately 110.2 million pounds and had a dockside value of $117.3 million.

The opening dates for the 2011 spring inshore shrimp season will be considered by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission at the May 5 meeting to be held at LDWF headquarters.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter@LDWF.

For more information, contact Laura Deslatte at 225.610.2363 or ldeslatte@wlf.la.gov. 

April 6, 2011 – On Saturday, April 2, 2011, the second annual Louisiana Saltwater Series kicked off at Seaway Marina in Lafitte, La., with 47 boats entered and over $8,000 awarded in cash prizes.

The series was developed by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) in conjunction with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation to promote conservation of Louisiana’s saltwater sport fish resources and targets one of Louisiana’s most valuable sport fish, redfish.  

Taking home first place overall was Bobby Monstead and Aaron Gelfand with a two fish total weight of 17.51 pounds.

A total of 113 redfish were tagged and released during Saturday’s event.  The results of the tagging will aid conservation efforts for redfish in the future, helping to ensure healthy populations and a successful recreational fishing industry.

Visit www.lasaltwaterseries.com for more information including event photographs and a complete listing of results, and be sure to mark your calendars for our next tournament on April 30 at Calcasieu Point Landing.  Each series includes two-man teams with a $200 entry fee for each event. For teams consisting of three members, only two of the members may be 16 or older.  The tournament is a 100 percent payout series.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.

For more information contact Ashley Wethey at awethey@wlf.la.gov (225) 765-5113.

March 29, 2011 - The Louisiana Saltwater Series Fishing Tournament, hosted by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will open April 2, 2011, in Lafitte, La., at the Seaway Marina.  The series is dedicated to catch-and-release saltwater angling through a series of agency-sponsored fishing tournament.

The series was developed by LDWF in conjunction with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation to promote conservation of Louisiana’s saltwater sport fish resources targets, one of Louisiana’s most valuable sport fish, redfish.  

The grassroots-based tournament provides anglers with the opportunity to give back to the resource.  Contestants vie for cash prizes and test their skill while enjoying the thrill of the competitive sport. 

Each series includes two-man teams with a $200 entry fee for each event. For teams consisting of three members, only two of the members may be 16 or older.  The tournament is a 100 percent payout series.

This year, a youth division was established to introduce young anglers to the sport of fishing, and to teach the catch-and-release approach to conservation. Participants under 16 years of age will compete against one another in a separate category for trophy catch; all youth anglers will be recognized. 

The 2011 series is comprised of six fishing events and a championship. Tournament locations are scheduled across the coast.  The 2011 tournament schedule is as follows: 

• April 2 Lafitte, Seaway Marina;
• April 30 Lake Calcasieu, Calcasieu Point Landing;
• May 14 Venice, Venice Marina;
• June 18 Delacroix, Sweetwater Marina;
• July 23 Slidell, Dockside Bait and Tackle/The Dock;
• August 20 Port Fourchon, Moran’s Marina; and
• Championship October 7 and 8 Empire, The Delta Marina.

For complete information, including rules, regulations and entry forms go to www.lasaltwaterseries.com.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.

For more information contact Ashley Wethey at awethey@wlf.la.gov (225) 765-5113.

March 28, 2011 – Today Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham announced that the shrimp season in the open waters of Breton and Chandeleur sounds will be extended until further notice. Current data indicates that marketable quantities of white shrimp remain in these areas.  By extending the shrimp season, Secretary Barham hopes to provide added economic opportunity to shrimp harvesters, while still limiting risk to juvenile brown shrimp.

Preliminary LDWF trip ticket data indicates Louisiana shrimp landings for 2010 totaled approximately 72.9 million pounds and had a dock-side value of $104.2 million.  White shrimp landings accounted for 76 percent of total shrimp landings and 79 percent of the value.

The opening dates for the 2011 spring inshore shrimp season will be set by the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission at the May 5 meeting at LDWF headquarters.

For more information, contact Laura Deslatte at ldeslatte@wlf.la.gov or (225)610-2363.

March 28, 2011 – The Louisiana Oyster Task Force will meet in New Orleans at the UNO Advanced Technology Building in Suite 210 Tuesday, March 29, 2011, at 1 p.m.

The agenda for tomorrow’s meeting is as follows:

1. Roll Call
2. Approval of  January 25, 2011 MINUTES
3. Treasury Report
4. Committee Reports
5. Old Business
   1. Public Oyster Reef Evaluation & Shell Plant – Patrick Banks
   2. BP Oil Spill Remediation
      1. Claims Process
      2. Public Reef Remediation
      3. Oyster Lease Remediation
   3. Report on Washington Walk-on-the-Hill and functions
   4. Oyster Lease Moratorium Update, Map of Dual Claim Water-bottoms – Jerome Zeringue, Raymond Impastato
6. New Business
   1. Crop Insurance Update – Rob Certa
   2. Sabine Lake Oyster Harvest Recommendations – Mike Voisin
   3. NFI Spring Conference, May 10-12,2011 – Mike Voisin
   4. Army Corp of Engineers Shellfish Permit Reauthorization
   5. Acknowledgements:  Keith Lacaze, Tommy Cvitanovich
7. Set Next Meeting
8. Adjourn

This meeting is open to the public.

Prior to the this meeting, the Legislative Committee for the Oyster Task Force will meet at 10 a.m. to discuss amending the state refrigeration allowance and the legal standard for measuring sack oysters. 

For more information contact Laura Deslatte at ldeslatte@wlf.la.gov or (225)610-2363.