Fisheries Flood Sampling Results

Impacts to Fishery Resources from the 2019 Flood Event

Preliminary Sampling Results (Subject to Change), Prepared September 30, 2019

Based on days at or above flood stage at Baton Rouge, the 2018-19 Mississippi River flood is the longest lasting flood on record since 1900 (when records became available).

The Bonnet Carré Spillway opened for an unprecedented two times in 2019, for a total of 123 days.

Unless otherwise noted, LDWF independent sampling data presented below are from March through August 2019, and commercial landings data are from March through July 2019. Both are compared to the five-year averages (2014-2018) for the same time periods.

Oysters

• Mortality on public reefs ranged as high as 100%:
  • St. Bernard Parish: 77-100%
  • East side of the Vermilion/Atchafalaya Basin: 87-100%
  • West side of the Vermilion/Atchafalaya Basin: 76-80%
  • Calcasieu Lake: 2-89%, with the higher mortality found in the northern part of the lake
  • Sabine Lake: up to 74%.
• Salinities are returning to normal in most basins, but hypoxic conditions have been observed in some areas across the coast.
• The 2019 assessment of oysters on the public grounds of the state shows the lowest stock recorded in history.
• Statewide commercial oyster landings decreased by 35% on private reefs and by 91% on public reefs (March-May; no June season on public reefs). Commercial oyster landings decreased across the state in all basins, with declines ranging from 22% to 84% in individual basins.
• Statewide, dockside values of oyster from private reefs were down 25% and down 88% from public reefs. Dockside values were down in all basins, with declines ranging from 19% to 84%.
• LDWF collected random dredge samples from oyster leases to assess mortality. Mortality rate ranges for each basin are as follows:
  • Pontchartrain Basin: 3-100%
  • Barataria Basin: 0-95%
  • Terrebonne: 6-100%
  • Vermilion/Atchafalaya: 52-98%.

Shrimp

• Brown shrimp catch per effort was 70% below average in LDWF 6-foot trawl samples in April and 62% below average in LDWF 16-foot trawl samples from March-June. White shrimp catch per effort in LDWF samples from July-August was 27% below average.
• Statewide volume and value of brown shrimp landings were down 39% and 48%, respectively. Volume was down 74% in the Pontchartrain Basin and 72% in the Calcasieu Basin.
• Statewide white shrimp landings were up 13% by volume and 22% by value.
• Average seasonal dockside value for brown and white shrimp combined was down 24% statewide; statewide combined shrimp landings decreased by 27%.

Crab

• Statewide monthly blue crab catch per effort in LDWF sampling was down more than 46% from March-May, above average in June and July, and down approximately 13% in August. The largest statewide decline was in March (84%). Catch per effort declined in most individual basins; the largest declines were in the Vermilion-Teche and Terrebonne basins.
• Statewide commercial blue crab landings decreased by 26%. Commercial blue crab landings decreased across the state in all basins, with declines ranging from 14 to 34% in individual basins.

Marine Finfish

• Catch per unit effort of spotted seatrout in LDWF sampling was 66% below average in the Vermilion-Teche Basin, 50% below average in the Pontchartrain Basin, and 48% below average in the Calcasieu Basin. Statewide catch per unit effort was 2% below average.
• 2019 statewide commercial landings of black drum were down 2%, but dockside value was up 2%. Statewide commercial sheepshead landings were up 57% and dockside value was up 73%.
• In the Vermilion-Teche Basin, commercial black drum landings were down by 42% and dockside value was down 32%.
• In the Calcasieu Basin, black drum landings were down 44% and dockside value was down 36%.
• Commercial sheepshead landings in the Terrebonne and Calcasieu basins were down 50% and 48%, respectively. Dockside values in these two basins were down 51% and 50%, respectively.
• LDWF continues to monitor private recreational and charter effort and landings through LA Creel; some decreases have been noted.
• Few invasive species have been collected in the Bonnet Carré impact area, though Asian carp were abundant in the outfall area.

Inland Fisheries

• To date, measurable negative impacts on freshwater fisheries have been minimal; only small fish kills have been reported in the upper and lower Atchafalaya Basin and in Spring Bayou (Avoyelles Parish).
• Dissolved oxygen levels are extremely low in many areas so additional fish kills are likely until water temperatures cool in the fall.
• Wild crawfish landings decreased by 18% in the Atchafalaya Basin and by 16% statewide. High catches have been reported east of the Mississippi River where floodwaters have inundated nearby marsh habitat.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has scheduled dredging to remove sedimentation in the Red River.
• Following the closure of the Bonnet Carré Spillway, the USACE, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and LDWF collected 17 pallid sturgeon and 208 shovelnose sturgeon entrained below the spillway and released them back into the Mississippi River. In addition:
  • One Gulf sturgeon was collected and released into Lake Pontchartrain.
  • One pallid sturgeon and 43 shovelnose sturgeon were found dead.
  • Four black carp were collected, marking the southernmost collection location of black carp.

Efforts toward Fishery Disaster Declaration and Fisheries Assistance

March 2019

• Began intensive weekly sampling for oyster impacts on public oyster seed grounds (normal sampling routine is monthly sampling)
• Began additional sampling for shrimp, crabs, and finfish; collected additional water quality samples as well to further document falling salinity levels
• Contacted Congressman Graves’ office and Senator Cassidy’s office via email to discuss support from them for potential request to U.S. Department of Commerce for a fisheries disaster declaration
• Contacted Congressman Graves’ office via email inquiring about USDA crop disaster assistance for oysters
• Continued biological sampling of oysters, shrimp, crabs, and finfish to monitor health of the fishery resources
• Began data analysis comparing current landings and dockside value to previous five-year averages for same time periods

• Continued biological sampling of oysters, shrimp, crabs, and finfish

• Continued biological sampling of oysters, shrimp, crabs, and finfish
• Began discussions with NOAA Fisheries concerning a federal fishery disaster to understand data needs, thresholds for impacts, process for applying, and likely timeline of disaster assistance
• Compiled the first fisheries impact analysis document to show impacts to fisheries both in terms of landings and dockside value; provided to NOAA, Congressman Graves’ office, and Senator Cassidy’s office
• Exchange of information on this topic with St. Bernard Parish government

• Continued biological sampling of oysters, shrimp, crabs, and finfish
• Updated fisheries impact analysis document; provided to NOAA, Congressman Graves’ office, and Senator Cassidy’s office
• Began discussions with Louisiana Sea Grant Fisheries Extension concerning assistance with economic analysis for fishery impacts
• Assisted in drafting Governor Edwards’ fisheries disaster request letter to US Department of Commerce
• Provided news releases to the public concerning the Governor’s disaster request and the steps in obtaining such a disaster declaration from the federal government
• Exchange of information on this topic with St. Bernard Parish government and Rep. Ray Garofalo

• Continued biological sampling of oysters, shrimp, crabs, and finfish
• Updated fisheries impact analysis document; provided to NOAA, Congressman Graves’ office, and Senator Cassidy’s office
• Wildlife and Fisheries Commission passed a Resolution supporting Governor Edwards’ fisheries disaster declaration request; LDWF staff developed the resolution.
• Trip to Washington DC (P. Banks) with members of shrimp and oyster industries, as well as St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis, St. Bernard Parish Councilwoman Kerri Callais, Plaquemines Parish President Kirk Lapine, and Representative Ray Garofalo to meet with congressional delegation, NOAA, and USDA concerning fisheries disaster declaration and fisheries disaster assistance

• Continued biological sampling of oysters, shrimp, crabs, and finfish
• Updated fisheries impact analysis document; provided to NOAA, Congressman Graves’ office, and Senator Cassidy’s office
• Began random sampling of private oyster leases (LDWF does not normally sample on private oyster leases)

• Dockside value of landings must be at least 35% LOWER than most recent five-year average over a continuous 12-month period to be considered. Such a disaster determination is not automatic, however, at this level.
• Loss of dockside value and;80% will result in a determination of a fishery disaster (a.k.a. fishery failure).
• Additionally, the stock size of a fishery species (in-water biomass or numbers) or commercial landings (pounds) may also be used to determine a fishery disaster by NOAA. The same percentage decrease (or loss) is utilized in the determination as is used when dockside value is considered.
• Recreational-related impacts CANNOT be used to justify a fishery disaster; however, any disaster assistance monies appropriated may be used to benefit recreational fisheries.
• Any federal disaster assistance monies must be appropriated by Congress. There is no standing fund within NOAA for disbursement to affected fisheries.