‘CCA Gulf of Mexico’ Articles
Gulf of Mexico fisheries and marine resource conservation issues.
As hard as it might be to believe, management of the Gulf red snapper fishery reached a new level of frustration this week. At its meeting in Mobile, the Gulf Council announced that the overall quota of red snapper harvest will be increased, but the 2012 season will likely be the shortest ever, perhaps no more than 40 days.
Why?
Well, the fishery is rebounding beyond all hopes and expectations. It’s a smashing success story by almost any definition…. except the one used by NOAA Fisheries. There are more red snapper out there than anyone can explain, and the fish are much bigger than anyone thought they would be at this point in the rebuilding plan. Anglers are catching big, fat red snapper so fast we are reaching our quota even before the meager allotment of days set for our season elapses. The only answer NOAA Fisheries has to offer is to keep cutting days off our season so that anglers stay within their limits.
You would think that someone would stop to question if this is what they ought to be doing and, admirably, some Gulf Council members are doing just that. It is more than past time to ponder the lunacy of closing a highly prized fishery for at least 325 days – one that appears to have more fish in it than at any time in recent memory. Especially since Council staffers are looking for “something radical” to exert even more control in the future – something like tags or one-fish bag limits, according to Roy Crabtree, NOAA regional administrator. And, that is not what we need.
Rather than searching for the next level of control, there are better questions to ask here: Is this really how we want to manage our fisheries? What does success look like? What exactly is the goal here?
Somewhere along the way, the idea of managing the oceans like ordered aquariums came into the equation. Federal law currently compels managers to act in ways that seem designed to drive recreational anglers right off the water, and managers seems defiantly content to do so. That kind of rote pursuit of a goal, regardless of the consequences, is what is driving anglers into the streets to protest.
There is nothing wrong with stepping back and asking if this is the right path – if this is what anyone could possibly have had in mind when Magnuson-Stevens was reauthorized in 2006. That is not what’s happening. To the contrary, managers are thinking up even more ways to gain greater and greater control to count every fish and cap every fishery, without ever stopping to wonder if it is feasible or even if it is the right thing to do.
As evidenced by yet another unbelievable Gulf Council meeting, federal fisheries management doesn’t need a Band-Aid or even “radical” surgery.
It needs a completely new vision.
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Tags: gulf council, Magnuson-Stevens Act, red snapper
Posted in CCA Gulf of Mexico | No Comments »
Panel continues to push recreational-based catch share agenda
In a letter to the chairman of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, Coastal Conservation Association is asking the Council to reject the recommendations of the Limited Access Privilege Program Advisory Panel (LAPP AP) and abandon consideration of sector separation and catch share experiments in Gulf reef fish fisheries.
“The recreational anglers who participated in this panel have been greatly frustrated with Council-generated directives and LAPP AP agenda templates that were predetermined to achieve a particular outcome,” wrote Chester Brewer, chairman of CCA’s National Government Relations Committee. “In the end, the panel has come up with a result that is opposed by almost the entire Gulf of Mexico for-hire sector, as well as the private boat angling sector.”
The LAPP AP was originally tasked by the Gulf Council with looking at Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)/catch share programs for the “other species in the reef fish management unit” across sectors, but its scope was subsequently broadened significantly. Its focus evolved to include pilot programs to give a portion of the recreational red snapper quota to the for-hire fleet under a concept known as sector separation, which breaks the recreational sector into private boat anglers and charter/for-hire businesses.
“At the core of the report from the LAPP AP is the issue of taking red snapper quota away from the overall recreational sector to allow a tiny segment of the fishery to increase its economic viability,” says Brewer. “We see no effort by the Council to increase the financial viability of the entire fishery by maximizing the economic value available. NOAA Fisheries’ own analysis shows that the only way the Council will increase the number of days the for-hire vessels can fish for red snapper will be by taking fish away from the millions of private anglers along the Gulf Coast.”
CCA is asking the Council to focus instead on management measures such as completing the five-year review of the red snapper IFQ program, along with a review of red snapper allocation and the exploration of methods to exchange IFQ shares across sectors, all of which are mandated by the NOAA Catch Shares Policy. Similarly the Council should proceed with the timely completion of Amendment 28 and reallocate grouper between the recreational and commercial sector in order to create jobs and increased economic value from this fishery as well.
“We hope that the Council will recognize the extreme disconnect between the conclusions reached by this predisposed AP and the sentiments of the vast angling public,” says Brewer. “We urge the Council to abandon consideration of an unpopular and unnecessary program that caters to a tiny fragment of the fishery and instead focus on management measures that will create the greatest economic, conservation and social benefits.”
Click HERE for a copy of the CCA letter to the Gulf Council.
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CCA is the largest marine resource conservation group of its kind in the nation. With almost 100,000 members in 17 state chapters, CCA has been active in state, national and international fisheries management issues since 1977. For more information visit the CCA Newsroom at www.JoinCCA.org.
Tags: gulf council, LAPP AP, red snapper, sector separation
Posted in CCA Gulf of Mexico, Catch Shares | 6 Comments »
CCA applauds Louisiana senator for effort to avert rig removals
Coastal Conservation Association is applauding Sen. David Vitter (R-La) for legislation filed today that will prevent rigs and other structures from being summarily removed from the Gulf of Mexico.
In a knee-jerk response to the Gulf oil spill, the U.S. Department of Interior issued a directive in October of 2010 ordering that all non-producing rigs be plugged and any remaining structure removed within five years of the issuance of that directive. Sen. Vitter’s Rigs to Reefs Habitat Protection Act of 2011 seeks to allow those structures to remain in the Gulf as vibrant artificial reefs.
“More than ever we need to create habitat for marine life in the Gulf, not dispose of it,” said Sen. Vitter. “These idle rigs are serving a valuable purpose by supporting our fisheries, and it just doesn’t make sense to remove them. I appreciate the Coastal Conservation Association for bringing this issue to my attention so we can reach a reasonable outcome that benefits the fish and the fishermen.”
“The structures are generally regarded as the largest man-made artificial reef in the world, providing habitat to dozens of species of fish and marine life, many of which are structure-dependent,” said Chester Brewer, chairman of CCA’s National Government Relations Committee. “Sen. Vitter, like all fishermen, realizes the critical connection between habitat and healthy fisheries, and we are grateful for his efforts to have those structures stay in the water as habitat and as popular fishing destinations for recreational anglers.”
There are approximately 3,500 offshore structures in the Gulf of Mexico and the directive, known as the Idle Iron Policy, would impact roughly 650 structures that have not produced oil or gas within five years of the directive issue date of Oct. 15, 2010.
“If nothing is done, a tremendous amount of habitat will be lost and the negative impact would be massive,” said Brewer. “In the aftermath of the oil spill disaster, it is understandable that the federal government felt the need to be seen taking action, but this directive could create far more problems than it solves. Sen. Vitter’s legislation serves as a reasonable approach to address the Administration’s concerns while maintaining this vital habitat.”
The Rigs to Reefs Habitat Protection Act would not allow platforms to be removed until an assessment has been completed to determine whether there are coral populations or other protected species in the vicinity of the platform, and to identify any species that have recreational or commercial value. If it is determined that there is a substantial reef ecosystem around the structure, the decommissioning of the platform will be halted until it can be determined that removing it would not harm the reef ecosystem.
The Act further states that companies are exempt from the requirement to remove platforms from the marine environment as long as the owner commits to converting the platform into an artificial reef either by initiating discussions with applicable state governments regarding potential sites for the artificial reef or by taking steps to provide for “reefing in place.”
For reefing in place, the Act outlines several steps that must be taken, including removal of the top decks, maintaining an anode system and navigation aids, and paying into a Reef Maintenance Fund created by the Act. The Reef Maintenance Fund is to be available without fiscal year limitation and not subject to appropriation, for the maintenance of artificial reefs established under this program.
“This is a well thought-out solution that works for everyone, but most importantly it works best for the marine environment,” said Brewer. “We look forward to working with Sen. Vitter and with Congress to get this bill passed as quickly as possible and keep those platforms in the Gulf as vital artificial reefs.”
Click HERE to see the full text of S.1555 – The Rigs to Reefs Habitat Enhancement Act of 2011
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CCA is the largest marine resource conservation group of its kind in the nation. With almost 100,000 members in 17 state chapters, CCA has been active in state, national and international fisheries management issues since 1977. For more information visit the CCA Newsroom at www.JoinCCA.org.
Tags: david vitter, Gulf habitat, habitat enhancement, Idle Iron, rig removal, rigs to reefs, S.1555
Posted in CCA Gulf of Mexico | 4 Comments »
CCA Building Conservation Program and partners set to reclaim Louisiana marsh
TERREBONNE PARISH, LA – CCA’s Building Conservation Habitat Program, in partnership with Shell Oil Company, Terrebonne Parish Government, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, America’s Wetlands, Entergy and Enterprise Products, will launch a restoration project later this month to rebuild part of the coastline in Terrebonne Parish utilizing the unique “Floating Islands” product.
With just slivers of marsh remaining in some areas along the coast, the restoration project will use the Floating Islands’ matrix, which is made of recycled plastic, to plant native species and allow them to grow a root system to the water bottom. The plants will trap sediments and eventually grow toward and tie into the remaining marsh, strengthening it into a sustainable, flourishing mass.
“This is a great initiative where students from local schools – Pointe Aux Chene Elementary and Montegut Middle School – and other local volunteers will be participating to save their marsh,” said John Walther, chairman of CCA Louisiana’s Habitat Committee. “The Floating Island matrix is designed to give the plants a better anchor to the bottom and increase the likelihood that they will take hold and begin to grow outward. The ultimate goal is to find a way to increase the amount of marsh we have by tying these new plants into existing marsh. We’re going to fight to take our marsh back one foot at a time.”
The project is the first to use “floating islands” technology, developed by Martin EcoSystems, in an open-water application in the marine environment, although the technique has been used for shoreline stabilization in conjunction with hurricane protection levees in south Louisiana. Plans call for about 1,500 linear feet of the islands to be installed in this project using two types of marsh grass – smooth cord in the center and seashore paspalum on the edges – to create a habitat component.
“The plants are installed in the matrix onshore and then the matrix is moved to the water for installation. More planting matrix can be added in later stages to expand the area,” explained Walther. “This is a relatively new technique and it holds more promise for shoreline protection than efforts utilizing recycled Christmas trees, for example. This method is also more economical than traditional planting methods and there are plenty of places we could use something cheap and effective along our disappearing coastline.”
CCA members, local students, Shell employees and other volunteers will gather Sept. 23-24 to prepare the mats, each of which is 5 feet by 8 feet and can hold 50 to 60 plants. For those who prefer to pitch in without getting muddy, the public is invited to purchase additional plants for the Terrebonne “Floating Islands” Restoration Project by visiting the CCA Louisiana web site at this link: http://www.ccalouisiana.com/cca11/news/369-floating-island-project.
Both the CCA Building Conservation Habitat Program and the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government have each pledged $50,000 for the project, Entergy has pledged $30,000 and America’s Wetland has donated $10,000 in logistical support, tents, media transport, meals and refreshments.
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The Building Conservation Program was created to provide funding for marine habitat conservation and restoration projects. Thanks to support from Shell Oil Company, program funds are combined with local CCA chapter network volunteer efforts to identify and organize conservation projects, engaging local communities to work together for marine conservation.
In the “floating islands” concept, plant roots grow through the island into the water column below. As water passes through the network of hanging roots underneath the floating matrix, the plant roots remove nutrients and pollutants in the water. These same nutrients provide the food source that the plants need for growth and the result is a “concentrated wetland” effect. Images provided by Martin EcoSystems.
Tags: CCA Building Conservation, Louisiana habaitat, marsh restoration
Posted in CCA Building Conservation, CCA Gulf of Mexico | No Comments »
Project will be largest inshore permitted reef in Alabama
MOBILE, AL – CCA Alabama and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division, have announced a partnership to complete the massive Bayou Cour Reef in Bon Secour Bay. The Bayou Cour Reef is a proposed 34-acre reef located about one mile north of the Intracoastal Waterway in the Bon Secour Bay arm of Mobile Bay.
The $163,000 project is being made possible with funds from the Marine Resources Division (MRD), a $55,000 donation from the CCA Building Conservation Habitat Program, and through donations from other sources, including CCA Alabama’s license tag program. The initial phase of the project, a rip-rap circle to contain limestone and oyster shells in the main reef, was begun by MRD in June 2011. CCA’s donations will be used to complete the first phase of the project.
“We are thrilled to partner with MRD to build yet another inshore reef in Alabama waters,” CCA Alabama Chairman Edwin Lamberth said. “Projects like this allow recreational anglers to give something directly back to the resource. We expect that the reef will become a highly productive and popular destination for inshore anglers, and we certainly expect it to be a benefit to the economies of the surrounding communities.”
The reef will be the largest permitted inshore reef in Alabama waters to date. Nearby reefs include the Fish River Reef and the Shellbank Reef, which have provided excellent finfish habitat and sport fishing opportunities. CCA Alabama has been a part of building numerous inshore reefs and enhancing fishing habitat in Alabama’s waters since the state chapter was founded in 1982.
Chris Blankenship, Director of the Marine Resources Division, and Chief Biologist Kevin Anson spearheaded the project on behalf of the state.
“We are always grateful to organizations like CCA that are committed to enhancing our marine resources here in Alabama. Donations like these make the completion of these projects possible, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with CCA, Shell and the Building Conservation Habitat Program,” said Blankenship.
“This project combines the grassroots strength of CCA with the resources of Shell and the Building Conservation program to allow our members to enhance Gulf resources in truly significant ways for both today’s anglers and for generations of anglers to come,” said Pat Murray, president of CCA National.
In December of 2010, Shell Oil Company announced a $1.5 million contribution to the CCA Building Conservation Habitat Program. Since then, the CCA program has contributed almost $400,000 to habitat projects in Gulf Coast states that were impacted with the oil spill last summer.
For more information, contact CCA Alabama at 251-478-3474. A map of the reef and its location is pasted below and can also be found at www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/saltwater/where/ramps-reefs.pdf .
Tags: artificial reef, bon secour reef, cca alabama, CCA Building Conservation
Posted in CCA Building Conservation, CCA Gulf of Mexico | 1 Comment »
Sector Separation – It’s OK to Throw Bad Ideas Away
by Ted Venker
Conservation Director
Coastal Conservation Association
Linus Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author and educator. He was one of the most influential chemists in history and one of only four individuals to have won more than one Nobel Prize.
As far as I know, though, he never worked in fisheries management. He might not have liked to fish and possibly may not have even liked to eat fish. However, given his famous saying about ideas, we could certainly use him on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council today.
“The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas,” Pauling once said, “and throw the bad ones away.”
What Linus saw so clearly has apparently proven to be a tough concept for most of the Gulf Council to grasp. It’s good to have ideas. Big problems need lots of ideas to solve. Put them all on the table – poke them, prod them, sift through them. But when they turn out to be bad ideas, throw them out and be done with them, for goodness’ sake.
Someone should have thrown out the idea of sector separation long ago, but instead the idea seems to be a classic case of the squeaky wheel getting the grease.
Sector separation is the proposal to formally split existing and future recreational sector allocations of harvest into separate private boat and charter / for-hire / headboat sector portions. This approach has been pushed by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), which is also advocating catch shares for the for-hire and headboat sectors.
Times are tough for charter/for-hire and headboat operators in the Gulf of Mexico. No one disputes that. Times are tough all over. But somehow, a small, vocal minority of operators has convinced the Gulf Council that they need extra help. They figured their lives would be a lot easier if someone would literally give them some of the recreational quota of red snapper and allow them to be one of the very few segments in America today with some stability in their businesses. The Council apparently feels the need to do something to help them.
In reality, every entity from the federal government to your local vegetable stand craves a little stability in their business right now. I bet all of the state wildlife management agencies that are seeing their budgets slashed and burned would love to see some stability and guaranteed revenue streams as well.
It’s a nice gig for the operators, if they can get it. But does the chance to play favorites for a few operators justify the Council striking off on such a radical and wildly unpopular idea that makes no sense at any level?
It makes no economic sense for anyone but a handful of fortunate operators. By catering to a very small segment of the Gulf reef fish fishery, the Council is apparently willing to shortchange the private boat angling sector that is many times larger and far more economically vibrant – see Table 1 below.
NOAA’s own economic studies show that for the period 2009 to 2032, private boat recreational anglers will contribute $9.1 billion of the value in the Gulf of Mexico shrimp and reef fish fisheries, followed by the commercial shrimp fishery at $1.6 billion, and the recreational for-hire fishery at just $0.83 billion.
It shouldn’t make any sense to state wildlife management agencies. Given the limited recreational allocation, the only way the idea works at all is if managers take fish and fishing days away from private boat anglers and give them to a few private businesses. Private boat anglers supply the vast majority of license fees that support state fisheries programs. Charter/for-hire vessels supply a much smaller percentage of revenues. It is very likely a move to separate the recreational sector will create challenges for state fisheries directors by influencing the growth in the number of licensed anglers and fishing opportunities in their states.
The issue of sector separation and catch shares for the recreational angling sector has drawn opposition from governors, Congress and recreational anglers. And yet, the Gulf Council members continue to toy with the idea like a puzzle they can’t quite fit together.
Linus Pauling, where are you when we need you?
Before the Council lets sector separation whither into existence against the will of everyone but a few operators, it should first heed calls to reallocate fisheries according to modern factors like economic, social and conservation criteria, rather than outdated catch history. There is a very good likelihood that reallocating red snapper would solve many of the problems faced by operators without creating so many new ones.
Today’s Gulf red snapper allocation is 51 percent commercial/49 percent recreational. Before the Gulf Council turns the recreational sector inside out and upside down for the benefit of a few charter/for-hire and headboat operators, it would seem wise to first determine what happens if they changed the allocation to something more reflective of current reality. Maybe something that would encourage growth in the sector that is the greatest economic engine in this fishery.
Now that’s a good idea.
If those same operators are still struggling a few years from now under the new allocation, then perhaps you reallocate again or perhaps you throw some other ideas on the table and sift through those.
But take it from a guy who won two Nobel Prizes – don’t forget to throw the bad ideas away.
Tags: Catch Shares, EDF, sector separation
Posted in CCA Blogs, CCA Gulf of Mexico | 1 Comment »
CCA Texas joins effort to expand fishing opportunities at existing reef
PORT MANSFIELD, TEXAS – Recreational fishermen in the nearshore waters off the coast of Port Mansfield will have almost five 
times the amount of habitat to fish within eight miles of the Port Mansfield Jetties after a major infusion of hard structure this week. CCA Texas’s habitat program, Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow (HTFT) teamed up with Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Artificial Reef Program and Alamo Concrete Products to further enhance the existing Port Mansfield nearshore reef with more than 4,000 concrete culverts.
“This is a huge project for Texas anglers. It will take 10 days of work around the clock to move 4,000 culverts so we are talking about creating a significant amount of new habitat out there that will be within easy reach of recreational anglers,” commented HTFT Committee chairman Jay Gardner. “You can’t just snap your fingers and pull together a habitat effort on a scale like this – it takes time, money and commitment. We can’t give enough credit to our partners at TPWD and Alamo Concrete Products. CCA Texas is proud to be able to do our part to bring this project to completion and we look forward to tackling many more.”
CCA Texas contributed $50,000 toward the total cost of about $537,000 to expand the existing reef, which already held an old tug boat and about 800 culverts. The expanded reef will provide additional habitat for many species of fish and marine life, including red snapper. The Port Mansfield reef is the second major reefing project undertaken by HTFT. In August 2010, more than 250 tons of concrete and granite splashed down on the Vancouver reef site off the coast of Freeport, and a new reefing project is planned for a third site off the coast between Matagorda and Sargent. To date, CCA Texas has committed more than $200,000 to nearshore reefing in Texas waters.
The state’s Artificial Reefing Program’s nearshore and public reefing portion has been in existence since 2006 and aims to establish a 160-acre site at each major port in Texas. Sites currently exist at Port Isabel, Port Mansfield, Packery Channel, Port Aransas (2), Matagorda and Freeport. These nearshore sites, located in Texas state waters, allow the general public to place reefing materials within those areas, as long as those efforts conform to the guidelines of the program and have prior approval from the state.
“Port Mansfield is a popular destination for many Texas anglers and for our ‘winter Texans’ who come down every year to enjoy our warm weather. Our economy benefits a great deal from the quality fisheries that we have to offer, and projects like this help ensure that we will have them in the future,” said Matt Klostermann, president of the CCA Texas Rio Grande Valley Chapter. “Anglers are the driving force behind our efforts as a chapter to raise funds for these kinds of habitat projects that ultimately benefit conservation. We find tremendous satisfaction from being a proactive part of the solution.”
To find the acres of new fishing opportunity, plug the following coordinates into your GPS: [WGS 84 format for GPS units] N 26o 31.535’ – W 97o 09.215’
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Posted in CCA Building Conservation, CCA Gulf of Mexico | No Comments »
Funds Will Go into Sportsman Fund Created with CCA in 2010
New Berlin, Wis. (July 15, 2011) – Sportsman Channel, the leader in outdoor TV for the American Sportsman, pres
ented a $50,000 check to Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) President Pat Murray at the ICAST Show in Las Vegas. This check will go directly to the “Sportsman Fund,” an internal fund Sportsman Channel originated with CCA in 2010 to raise awareness and funds for Gulf regions working to recover from the 2010 oil spill disaster. CCA is one of the largest non-profit marine conservation groups in America.
“Sportsman Fund” began with the help of DISH Network in August 2010, when it launched Sportsman Channel and Sportsman HD on Ch. 395 and via a la carte pricing. The companies agreed to donate proceeds from the a la carte pricing to the Sportsman Fund, created to benefit Gulf coast habitat restoration and research.
Since then, Sportsman Channel and InterMedia Outdoors utilized print, on-air and digital assets to further promote the cause.
“We are proud to present this check to CCA and to say the campaign to raise funds for Gulf Coast recovery and restoration efforts was a huge success,” said Sportsman COO Todd Hansen. “This check is very telling of the success the network is experiencing on DISH Network. But we are not finished yet, as we will continue to help CCA promote Sportsman Fund and also lend a hand to tell the stories of those communities that are still so deeply affected.”
CCA has worked closely with government and regulatory agencies since the beginning of the Gulf oil disaster to ensure the Gulf’s habitats, fishing industries, marine life and resources are adequately represented and supported. CCA’s history and experience in marine habitat restoration and coastal conservation will continue to be a vital component in the recovery and restoration of Gulf marine resources.
“We are thankful to have this unique partnership with Sportsman Channel and receive this check, which is a big help in restoring the Gulf of Mexico,” said Pat Murray, CCA president. “There are some very positive programs and signs of progress occurring throughout the Gulf, but there is still much to do. This generous program will be an important part of restoring and enhancing the Gulf’s fragile habitats.”
SPORTSMAN CHANNEL: Launched in 2003, Sportsman Channel is the only television and digital media company fully devoted to the more than 82 million sportsmen in the United States, delivering entertaining and educational programming focused exclusively on hunting, shooting and fishing activities. Sportsman Channel is now available in HD, check with your local cable or satellite provider. Acquired by InterMedia Outdoors Holdings in 2006, Sportsman Channel reaches 27 million U.S. television households and is a part of the nation’s largest multimedia company targeted exclusively to serving the information and entertainment needs of outdoors enthusiasts. Visit www.thesportsmanchannel.com, follow on Twitter, @SPORTSMANchnl (www.twitter.com/SPORTSMANchnl), become a Fan on Facebook, www.facebook.com/sportsmanchannel and download Sportsman App at www.itunes.com/appstore
ABOUT CCA: Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) is the largest marine resource conservation group of its kind in the nation. With almost 100,000 members in 17 state chapters, CCA has been active in state, national and international fisheries management issues since 1977. CCA’s strength is drawn from the tens of thousands of recreational saltwater anglers who make up its membership. From South Texas to the Puget Sound to the upper reaches of Maine, CCA’s grassroots influence is felt through state capitols, U.S. Congress and, most importantly, in the conservation and restoration of our coastal marine resources. Visit www.JoinCCA.org for more information.
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Tags: Gulf restoration, oil spill, Sportsman Channel, Sportsman Fund
Posted in CCA Building Conservation, CCA Gulf of Mexico | No Comments »
State of Louisiana
Office of the Governor
GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 11, 2011
Press Office: Melissa Sellers, Kyle Plotkin
Contact: 225-342-8006, (c) 225-328-3755
Gov. Jindal Unveils “Louisiana Plan” For Restoring Damaged Coastal Areas, Fisheries & Oyster Seed Grounds From Oil Spill
NEW ORLEANS – Today, Governor Bobby Jindal unveiled the “Louisiana Plan” to start restoring the state’s coastal areas, fisheries and oyster seed grounds from the devastating impact of the BP oil spill. The state will be submitting a list of projects to BP, the Department of Interior and NOAA, and the funding will come from a $1 billion agreement announced in April 2011 for early restoration of damaged natural resources resulting from the oil spill.
The “Louisiana Plan” of early restoration projects totals around $530 million. The state expects to receive a large portion of the $1 billion in early restoration funds because Louisiana sustained the brunt of oil spill damage along the Gulf.
The departments of the Interior and Commerce and BP announced a $1 billion agreement for early restoration of damaged natural resources resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill earlier this year. The $1 billion agreement includes:
· $500 million split equally among the five Gulf states ($100M each)
· $200 million split equally among the Department of the Interior (DoI) and NOAA
· $300 million to be allocated by DoI and NOAA to states for early restoration projects
The Jindal administration first made a request for early restoration funding in July of 2010, rather than waiting for 10 years or more during legal negotiations, and pushed for a down payment from BP to begin restoring the natural resources injured by the BP oil spill. This early restoration funding – which comes from the responsible parties and includes no taxpayer money – must be used to offset natural resource injuries to wildlife or the coast, or the lose use of natural resources.
Governor Jindal said, “We are working aggressively to get our fishermen and our coastal communities back on their feet following the catastrophic BP oil spill last year. We fought hard to cut the red tape and get BP’s commitment to fund early restoration work so we would not have to wait 10 or more years before damage payments were made to Gulf states. We were pleased BP finally announced a commitment of $1 billion for early Gulf Coast recovery projects just a few months ago. This ‘Louisiana Plan’ we are announcing today will jumpstart work on critical restoration projects including the placement of fish hatcheries, oyster re-seeding and coastal restoration work all along our coast.
“Our plan includes projects totaling more than $500 million because we expect to receive a major portion of the $500 million out of the $1 billion in early restoration funding that has not already been allocated to the states, due to the fact that our coast endured the brunt of the oil spill disaster. Parts of our shoreline are still oiled today and it is critical for this work to begin immediately so we can start to reverse the damage done to our natural resources even while we continue to hold BP accountable. Yet again, we are here to say that we cannot afford to wait. We are taking action.”
LDWF Secretary Robert Barham said, “It is crucial that we begin large-scale early restoration work as soon as possible. The state trustees have worked diligently to identify a list of essential projects that will help us begin the process of rebuilding and restoring our coastal resources and Louisiana fisheries. While we won’t know the full impact of the spill for years to come, we can prepare ourselves for what may happen. The Louisiana Marine Fisheries Science and Research Center, and the Oyster Re-establishment Program are two tangible ways to both restore resources now — planting cultch for oyste
r re-establishment and building the facilities that will be necessary to help restore any damaged fisheries. We cannot wait any longer. I fully support Governor Jindal’s efforts to have the NRDA trustee council approve these projects so we may begin now.”
Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser said, “These projects are important to the future of not only Louisiana’s coast, but our way of life. The Governor really stepped up to the plate and was aggressive about working with us to build this list. These projects are greatly needed to begin restoring resources deteriorated by the spill. We look forward to starting this work, it can’t happen soon enough.”
Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph said, “Thanks to the teamwork of Gov. Jindal, the OCPR, and the leaders of the impacted parishes, the regional projects chosen represent a solid opportunity to begin repairing the damage to our coast caused by the spill.”
David Cresson, CEO of the Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana said, “Recreational fishing is a way of life in Louisiana, not to mention a multi-billion dollar economic driver. We have the best saltwater fishing in the world, and we simply cannot afford for our fish to be negatively affected in any way by the spill. That is why CCA believes the Marine Fisheries Science Center and Fish Hatchery project is so critical to our recovery. It will allow us to supplement any damaged stocks and be prepared in case of similar challenges in the future. It will provide benefits to Louisiana and her coast for generations.”
Chairman of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board Harlon Pearce said, “Development of these restoration projects will help our industry replenish resources lost during the Gulf oil spill disaster and ensure that we maintain a sustainable fishery.”
Al Sunseri, owner of P&J Oysters and member of the Louisiana Oyster Task Force said, “For more than a year now, the Louisiana oyster community has sought restoration to our estuary begin following the BP oil spill. I applaud the Governor for working with the state trustees to find solutions for the oyster community. I am hopeful that the NRDA Trustee Council will quickly approve projects that will help oystermen get back on their feet. We need to restore our oyster harvest grounds because we are ready to get back to work.”
Dr. John Supan, Director of the Louisiana Sea Grant Bivalve Hatchery said, “The establishment of a Marine Fisheries Enhancement and Science Center is a great addition to the innovative work we have already begun here in Louisiana. Currently, at our hatchery, located at the Marine Research Laboratory at Grand Isle, we can produce up to a billion oyster larvae a year to support public oyster reefs and private oyster farms. This allows us the ability to expand oyster culture technology for Louisiana so that the oyster industry will be less dependent upon wild oyster seed.”
Executive Director of the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana Steven Peyronnin said, “The Mississippi River Delta is the cornerstone of a healthy Gulf and the scale and scope of oiled coastline in Louisiana makes it critical to begin restoring these areas as quickly as possible. The State of Louisiana has worked extremely hard to identify a list of shovel ready projects that can use this funding to begin restoring damaged areas immediately and take the first steps toward long-term recovery of the Gulf.”
Mike Voisin, Commissioner for Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission and Member of the Louisiana Oyster Task Force said, “The oyster community applauds the Governor and appreciates his efforts to help rebuild and rehabilitate oyster habitats in South Louisiana. The challenges presented to the oyster community by the Deep Water Horizon events of 2010 are being dealt with and met head on by our State and its leadership.”
Chuck Wilson, vice provost for the Louisiana State University Coastal Fisheries Institute said, “Louisiana Sea Grant is grateful for the partnership with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the opportunity to establish the existing hatchery at the Louisiana Marine Research Laboratory. The timeliness of today’s announcement cannot be overstated. We are excited to join efforts with the state to build the nation’s pre-eminent hatchery that will help ensure the long-term stability of the oysters industry.”
Senior Policy Analyst & Government Affairs Manager for the Ocean Conservancy Kris Van Orsdel said, “Restoring Louisiana’s oyster reefs is critical for not only supporting the state’s valuable oyster industry but also providing key ecosystem benefits including habitat for fish and wildlife, improving water quality and coastal protection.”
“Prompt approval of these restoration projects would provide a vital boost to the Gulf Coast’s environmental and economic recovery from the BP oil disaster,” said Paul Harrison, senior director for the Mississippi River Delta restoration project for Environmental Defense Fund. “The barrier island project for the Barataria Barrier Shoreline islands and oyster cultch for public seed grounds are especially worthy proposals.”
“LOUISIANA PLAN” PROJECTS
Oysters:
· Oyster Reestablishment Program – $15 million. This project has two distinct parts:
o First, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will contract for the placement of cultch material onto selected public oyster seed grounds. Cultch material consists of limestone rock, crushed concrete, oyster shell and other similar material that, when placed in oyster spawning areas, provides a location and substrate for free floating oyster larvae to attach and grow into oysters.
§ The Department will place cultch material on approximately 855 acres of public oyster seed grounds throughout coastal Louisiana. The approximate cost of this portion of the project is $12 million.
§ The tentative cultch placement locations include Mississippi Sound (St. Bernard Parish), Lake Fortuna/Machias (St. Bernard Parish), HackberryBay (Jefferson/Lafourche Parish), Lake Chien (Terrebonne Parish), Sister Lake (Terrebonne Parish), and Calcasieu Lake (Cameron Parish).
§ This project employs approaches used by LDWF since 1917. Over the nearly 100 years of cultch planting, LDWF has placed over 1.5 million cubic yards of cultch material on nearly 30,000 acres. It provides positive results, usually in as little as 17 months post-cultch placement.
o The second portion of the project involves constructing hatchery improvements to help facilitate and expedite success of the cultch placement. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, in partnership with Louisiana Sea Grant, will upgrade the existing Sea Grant oyster hatchery located at the LDWF facility on Grand Isle, Louisiana. The facility will be located next to the Wildlife and Fisheries Marine Lab on Grand Isle at a site owned by Louisiana State University.
Fisheries:
· Saltwater hatchery – $48 million. This project includes development of a Louisiana Marine Fisheries Enhancement and Science Center. The center will include: 3 fisheries enhancement and research locations, marine fisheries stock enhancement, aquaculture research and enhancement, and education and science facilities.
o This project would provide facilities for research to allow natural resource managers to develop and evaluate restoration strategies for impacted fish species.
o The fisheries center will also provide state of the art facilities for rearing fish.
o Finally, the fisheries center will include a public outreach component that will be used to inform the public about research and restoration progress for issues related to Gulf of Mexico fisheries restoration.
§ The project would be completed in three locations: a 20-acre site in Plaquemines Parish, the existing Marine Research Laboratory on Grand Isle, and a 90-acre site located along the coast in Southwest, LA, which will soon be identified.
Coastal Restoration Projects
· Chandeleur Islands Restoration – $65 million. We will be working with DOI and the State of Mississippi to define a restoration plan for a portion of the Chandeleur Islands, which we know sustained direct impact damage from the spill.
· Biloxi Marsh Shoreline Protection – $45 million. The Biloxi Marsh complex, located approximately 30 miles southeast of the city of New Orleans between Chandeleur Sound and Lake Borgne, provides important habitat in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin. This early restoration project involves creating a breakwater structure to protect the existing Biloxi Marsh habitat from erosion.
· Lake Hermitage Additional increment – $13.9 million. This restoration project involves an additional increment of 97.5 acres of marsh creation into a project known as the “Lake Hermitage Marsh Creation Project” that is being funded through the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) program. The project is located within the Barataria HydrologicBasin in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.
· Grand Liard Marsh and Ridge Restoration – $31 million. This early restoration project would restore the eastern ridge of Bayou Grand Liard and the adjacent marsh habitat to the east of the Bayou. The project would restore approximately 18,000 linear feet of ridge along the east bank of Bayou Grand Liard to restore the hydraulic barrier between Bayou Grand Liard and Yellow Cotton Bay.
o In addition to ridge creation, the project would create approximately 328 acres of marsh and it would restore/nourish an additional 140 acres of marsh.
· Shell Island – $110 million. Shell Island is a part of the Barataria Basin Barrier Shoreline (BBBS), and forms a key barrier between saline waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the fresher waters of the Barataria Basin. The island has become fragmented over the past few decades by a combination of strong tropical storms and land subsidence. Restoring the geomorphic and hydrologic function of Shell Island is an important priority for the ecosystems of the Barataria Basin.
· Cheniere Ronquille Barrier Island Restoration – $44 million. This early restoration project seeks to increase the longevity of Chenier Ronquille Island by restoring its dune and marsh platforms. The project calls for the creation of dune and marsh habitat, repair of breaches in the shoreline, and prevention of new breaches over the 20-year project life.
· Bay Side Segmented Breakwater at Grand Isle – $3.3 million. This project will reduce erosion on the bay side of Grand Isle, the only inhabited Barrier Island in Louisiana, with the goal of protecting a coastal area, including wetlands. The areas that will be protected include important residential and commercial infrastructure. This project will include construction of six 300-foot breakwaters (approximately 1.5 miles total) on the back bay side of Grand Isle. This project would complete the breakwater structures along the north side of the island and would protect residential and commercial development.
· West Grand Terre Restoration – $9 million. This project would restore the southwest (Gulf) side of West Grand Terre Island, using sediment pumped from an offshore source area. The total restoration area for this project is approximately 120 acres.
· West Grand Terre Stabilization – $3 million.West GrandTerre Island has some of the highest erosion rates in coastal Louisiana. This proposed restoration project would stabilize the bay side of southwestern West Grand Terre Island, using rock armament.
· Barataria Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration – Caminada Headland – $75 million. The Caminada Headland is a part of the Barataria Basin Barrier Shoreline (BBBS), and forms a key barrier between saline waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the fresher waters of the Barataria Basin. This restoration project will restore the Caminada Headland portion of the barrier shoreline. The projectincludes restoration of the barrier shoreline and creation and restoration of back barrier marsh habitat.
· Maintain Land bridge between CaillouLake and Gulf of Mexico – $71 million. This proposed NRDA early restoration project involves protection and restoration of approximately 1,600 acres of salt marsh, which will reduce current rates of degradation and erosion and sustain the land barrier between Caillou Lake and the Gulf of Mexico. The project goals are to reduce current rates of degradation along this land bridge; and to sustain the coastal ecosystem in this region.
FACTS ON BP OIL SPILL IMPACT IN LOUISIANA
· Federal data shows that that coastal Louisiana received approximately 92 percent of the heavily and moderately oiled shorelines in the entire Gulf of Mexico since the BP-Deepwater Horizon disaster.
· An estimated 60 percent or more of injured, oiled and killed birds, mammals, fish and other wildlife found were offshore Louisiana.
· Even today, 100 percent of the heavily oiled shoreline, over 99 percent of the moderately oiled shoreline and nearly 90 percent of the light or very light oiled shoreline in the Gulf of Mexico is in Louisiana.
· Over 90 percent of the species in the Gulf of Mexico and 98 percent of the commercially harvested fish and shellfish in the Gulf are dependent on coastal Louisiana’s unique estuary for sustainability.
· In addition, Louisiana’s coastal area is the largest wintering habitat for migratory waterfowl and song birds. Tens of millions of birds winter in Louisiana’s coastal area each year.
Tags: Louisiana Plan, NRDA, oil spill
Posted in CCA Gulf of Mexico | No Comments »
CCA Texas habitat program funds $50,000 to restore West Galveston Bay wetlands
HOUSTON, TX - Adding to an already impressive list of offshore artificial reefing and habitat restoration projects, the CCA Texas Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow (HTFT) program has announced it is funding $50,000 toward an ambitious marsh restoration project in West Galveston Bay. CCA Texas is joining with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on Phase I of the Bird Island Cove project, which will deploy 4,400 linear feet of geo-textile tubing and directly restore almost 57 acres of marsh habitat.
“Wetlands loss is a major concern in Texas, as it is in all coastal states,” said Jay Gardner, chairman of the CCA Texas HTFT program. “We are very proud to be in a position to work with other organizations and with state agencies to begin the monumental task of creating, restoring and conserving these habitats that are so important to our marine resources.”
The Galveston Bay complex has experienced greater wetlands loss than almost anywhere else in the state. Between 1950 and 1985, the system lost an estimated 20 percent of its wetlands and 70 percent of its seagrass. Based on historical information, most of the damage has occurred in West Galveston Bay and recent aerial research indicates that marsh habitat continues to disappear at a rapid rate.
“These habitats are at the very core of a healthy marine system and it is critical to not only stop losing wetlands, but also start to rebuild them where they have disappeared,” said Robby Byers, executive director of CCA Texas. “This type of restoration project is essential if we are going to continue to enjoy the incredible marine resources we have in this state. CCA members see this as a direct means of giving something back to the resource and ensuring a healthy future for all types of marine life.”
Phase I of the project has an estimated cost of $1.3 million and the $50,000 from CCA Texas will be leveraged for up to three times that amount in matching grant dollars. The geo-textile tubes will act as a breakwater to set the stage for the restoration of intertidal marsh complex. Dredge material will then be pumped into the protected area to raise the elevation and create different types of habitat, including salt flats and salt marsh. When fully completed, the project is expected to benefit almost 250 acres of intertidal marsh habitat that will be used by all types of fish, birds and shellfish.
“There is a considerable amount of engineering and construction that goes into a project like this, but the method has a proven track record of success in previous projects at Snake Island Cove, Carancahua Cove, Jumbile Cove and others,” said Byers. “West Galveston Bay is a particular area of concern, but we are committed to turning the tide on habitat loss there and restoring it to its full potential.”
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CCA is the largest marine resource conservation group of its kind in the nation. With almost 100,000 members in 17 state chapters, CCA has been active in state, national and international fisheries management issues since 1977. For more information visit the CCA Newsroom at www.JoinCCA.org.
Tags: HTFT, marine habitat, marsh restoration
Posted in CCA Building Conservation, CCA Gulf of Mexico | No Comments »
