Private Oyster Lease Rehabilitation (POLR) Program

(May 25, 2007 to June 30, 2009)

This program is designed to reimburse a portion of documented costs associated with the rehabilitation of oyster resources on private oyster leases up to a qualified amount per leaseholder (reimbursement qualifying amount was determined in part on the amount of leased acreage held by the leaseholder). Eligible leaseholders may participate in any or all of the activities listed below.

Rehabilitation Activities (performed by the participating leaseholder or duly authorized representative):

1. Sediment/Debris Removal - activities performed to prepare a suitable
substrate for larval attachment

2. Cultch Deposition - activities performed to provide new substrate for
larval attachment

3. Resurveying/Remarking - activities performed to locate and identify lease
boundaries

4. Oyster Relaying from Closed to Open Areas (DHH Permit required) -
activities performed to move oysters from polluted areas to clean areas for
purging

5. Oyster Transplanting (Bedding) - activities performed to move seed
oyster onto leases for grow-out purpose

6. Replacing Lost/Damaged Lease Records - LDWF will provide replacement
copies of the original signed lease document and original survey plats of the
lease(s).

Information about the POLR Program


POLR Instructions and Reimbursement Documentation Requirements


May 2007 - News Release Announcing the Private Oyster Lease Rehabilitation Program


F.A.Q. - Frequently Asked Questions


POLR list of Leaseholders and Contract Amounts (PDF file)


Sample Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (POLR contract - PDF file)


Legislative Auditors Report - POLR Program

This project is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (grant #NA06NMF4540319) through the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (sub-award # OR-RRR-020-2006-01) as part of the recent $53 million federal fisheries rehabilitation appropriation for Louisiana in the wake of the 2005 hurricanes. Additional projects planned for the $53 million include oyster rehabilitation on the public oyster grounds, debris removal on traditional fishing grounds, and cooperative research to monitor recovery of fishery resources impacted by the hurricanes of 2005.