Posts Tagged ‘artificial reefs’
Efforts to save marine habitat gain support from across the country
WASHINGTON, DC – A letter from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar calling for a moratorium on rig removals due to the federal 
government’s Idle Iron policy will carry the signatures of 20 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, an impressive bi-partisan display of concern for marine habitat in the Gulf of Mexico.
“As leaders and members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, we are concerned that the Idle Iron guidance issued by the Department of Interior in October of 2010 is having an adverse impact on critical marine habitat in the Gulf of Mexico,” states the letter, signed by Representatives from 10 states. “We request that your Department enact a temporary moratorium on the removal of structures related to that Directive until a stakeholder process can be developed to determine both the best methods to properly dismantle rigs that have cause to be removed, and to protect those structures that are shown to harbor thriving marine ecosystems.”
In response to the 2010 Gulf oil spill, the U.S. Department of Interior issued the Idle Iron directive which resulted in a policy that will ultimately force removal of any rigs, platforms or associated structures from non-producing wells. Coastal Conservation Association and other groups have argued that the structures are the basis for thriving ecosystems that sustain an immense diversity of life, and have called for a thorough evaluation process to be developed before any removal decisions are made. CCA worked with CSC and with Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.) on this most recent call for a moratorium on the Idle Iron policy to develop that process. Rep. Palazzo presented the concerns of the recreational angling community at a briefing hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation in June where he also invited fellow members of the Caucus to sign onto the letter to Secretary Salazar.
“Sportsmen know the value of habitat. We know how hard it is to create it and we know how easy it is to lose it,” said Rep. Palazzo. “We cannot sit idly by while marine habitat in the Gulf is destroyed by a policy that clearly needs more consideration. The Idle Iron issue may seem complex, but at the end of the day we would be wise to protect these habitats.”
The letter from the CSC is the latest in a string of efforts that CCA has worked on and supported to derail the Policy, including the Rigs to Reefs Habitat Protection Act filed in 2011 by U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and the companion bill introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Palazzo; language implementing strict review and reporting requirements on removals in the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012; the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s decision to begin the process of classifying rigs and other vital artificial reefs as Essential Fish Habitat (EFH), and letters from both Texas Governor Rick Perry and U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) to Secretary Salazar urging him to reconsider the policy. In June, a coalition of marine conservation, tackle and boating industry groups called for a halt to the Idle Iron policy in a letter to Secretary Salazar, citing the irreparable damage it stands to inflict on an extensive range of marine fisheries and ecosystems. Additionally, the Sportfishing and Boating Partnership Council, an 18-member committee established to provide input to the Department of Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on recreational boating and fishing issues and aquatic resource conservation issues, sent a letter to Secretary Salazar calling for a two-year moratorium on rig removals.
“We are grateful to all the elected officials who share our concern for this marine habitat and are willing to fight against arbitrarily dismantling the largest artificial reef system in the world,” said Pat Murray, president of CCA. “The entire issue of platform removals needs a much more thorough review given the incredible habitat at stake. Political leaders and experts from across the spectrum have voiced serious concerns about the impacts of the Idle Iron directive and are demanding a more reasoned process to evaluate these structures.”
For a copy of the CSC letter click HERE, and to learn more about the issue of these artificial reefs and their impact on the marine environment visit the CCA Rigs to Reefs page.
Tags: artificial reefs, Idle Iron, marine habitat, rig removals, rigs to reefs
Posted in CCA Gulf of Mexico | No Comments »
Legislation takes valuable step in protecting marine habitat
As a result of consistent pressure and engagement by Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) and its partners, language that begins to address the critical issue of Gulf rig and platform removals has been included in the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012. Congressional Sportsman Caucus Chairs Senators Jon Tester (D-Mt) and John Thune (R-SD) introduced the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 as an amendment to the 2012 Farm Bill (S. 3240) this week.
“There is an immediate need to halt these removals and CCA is actively working to put a moratorium in place,” said Pat Murray, president of CCA National. “As part of that overall strategy, this legislation includes a new plan for the Department of Interior to send a report to Congress on how it is going to assess this critical habitat before indiscriminately ripping out these artificial reefs. Something has to be done to make the federal government realize it is making a horrible mistake destroying this valuable habitat.”
In a misguided response to the 2010 Gulf oil spill, the U.S. Department of Interior issued the Idle Iron directive in October of 2010 ordering that all non-producing rigs and platforms be plugged and any remaining structure removed within five years of the issuance of that directive. Since then, CCA has worked on and supported a number of efforts to derail the negative impacts of the Idle Iron Policy, including the Rigs to Reefs Habitat Protection Act filed by U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Ms), the recent decision by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to begin the process of classifying rigs and other vital artificial reefs as Essential Fish Habitat (EFH), and letters of opposition from Texas Governor Rick Perry and U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) to the Department of Interior. Earlier this week, CCA and a coalition of marine conservation, tackle and boating industry groups called for a moratorium on the Idle Iron Policy in a letter to U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
“Inclusion of Idle Iron language in the Sportsmen’s Act is yet another step towards our goal and we are grateful to Senators Tester and Thune for including this section in the Sportsmen’s Package. It raises the visibility of an issue that is of great importance to recreational anglers,” said Murray.
Passage of the Sportsmen’s Act would require the Department of Interior (DOI) to coordinate with relevant federal and state agencies and accredited marine research institutes to assess the biodiversity and critical habitat present at platforms and related structures subject to removal, and assess the potential impacts of their removal. DOI would also have to develop a report on the potential impacts that the removal of those structures would have on the rebuilding plans for Gulf reef fish and habitat. Ultimately, the Secretary of Interior would also have to submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a final report that includes a description of public comments from regional stakeholders, including recreational anglers, divers, offshore oil and gas companies, marine biologists, and commercial fisherman, as well as options to mitigate potential adverse impacts on marine habitat associated with that removal.
The Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 contains a number of other components beneficial to hunting and recreational fishing and shooting. In addition to the Idle Iron language, the Act also contains a section containing the Billfish Conservation Act and a section that specifically excludes ammo and fishing tackle from the Toxic Substances Control Act.
Click HERE to see the complete Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 posted on the CCA Rigs to Reefs page.
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Tags: artificial reefs, Idle Iron, rigs to reefs, sportsmen's act
Posted in CCA Gulf of Mexico | No Comments »
CCA applauds Texas Congressman’s strong opposition to misguided Idle Iron directive
In the latest display of opposition to an unpopular federal directive, Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Tx) is calling for the Department of Interior to reconsider its Idle Iron policy that stands to dismantle critical marine habitats in the Gulf of Mexico. The Idle Iron directive, issued by the Department in the immediate aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, orders non-producing oil and gas rigs and other structures in offshore waters to be removed within five years of the issuance of the directive.
“I believe this directive is merely a knee-jerk reaction to the Gulf oil spill and creates more problems than it solves,” Farenthold says in the letter to Ken Salazar, Secretary of the U.S. Interior Department. “While legislative and scientific efforts are being made to preserve these valuable habitats, rigs are being pulled up left and right, leaving no time for finding a way to salvage these ecosystems. Instead of pre-emptively removing the rigs, the Department of Interior, specifically the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, should work to quicken the approval of these rigs for artificial reefing purposes and allow for additional time to determine a safe and environmentally sound method to reef these structures in place.”
Farenthold’s letter follows a similar letter from Texas Gov. Rick Perry as well as a recent decision by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to begin an amendment to have rigs and related structures declared Essential Fish Habitat. Marine conservationists are working to generate a groundswell of opposition to the Department’s directive and save what is generally regarded as the largest artificial reef system in the world.
“We are encouraged by Congressman Farenthold’s letter and grateful that he has stepped up to oppose this destructive policy,” said Pat Murray, president of CCA National. “Anglers know how important those structures are to marine life, and the fight to keep those rigs in place as artificial reefs is a critical issue to our members.”
Click HERE to see a copy of Farenthold’s letter, and be sure to check out the CCA Rigs to Reefs page for more information.
Tags: artificial reefs, Essential Fish Habitat, Idle Iron
Posted in CCA Gulf of Mexico | No Comments »
Anglers have high hopes for debate over value of artificial structure
A motion made at the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council February meeting in Mobile, Alabama, could be the first step to protecting what has been regarded as the largest man-made reef in the world – the vast forest of energy-related structures in the offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Bob Shipp’s request to have Council staff clarify the definition of what qualifies as artificial structure could pave the way for rigs and other vital reefs to be classified as Essential Fish Habitat.
“For anglers who have been greatly concerned about the impact of this Administration’s directive to summarily remove all non-producing energy structures, this is a very welcome development,” said Pat Murray, president of Coastal Conservation Association. “This is a chance for the Gulf Council and NOAA Fisheries to take a stand to protect that habitat, and we are grateful to Dr. Shipp for presenting this opportunity.”
In a misdirected 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. There are approximately 3,500 offshore structures in the Gulf of Mexico and the directive, known as the Idle Iron Policy, would immediately impact roughly 650 structures that have not produced oil or gas within five years of the directive issue date of Oct. 15, 2010.
“Anglers have already noted with alarm the disappearance of some rigs that have been in place for years – sometimes decades – that provided the base for flourishing ecosystems,” said Murray. “It is a completely avoidable tragedy, and we hope that the Council and NOAA Fisheries will do what it can to halt this needless destruction.”
Sen. David Vitter (R-La) and Rep. Steve Palazzo (R-Ms) have filed legislation that would prevent rigs and other structures from being summarily removed from the Gulf of Mexico, but both bills face a difficult road through the current Congress. A decision by NOAA Fisheries to declare artificial structures Essential Fish Habitat would be a significant addition to legislative efforts.
In 2009, Dr. Shipp and Stephen Bortone published a paper on the importance of artificial habitat on the management of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico which credits the deployment of energy structures in the mid-20th century for greatly increasing the harvest potential of red snapper.
“If the habitat limitation hypothesis is correct, and I believe it is, then it would be necessary to maintain or even increase the amount of artificial habitat in the northern Gulf of Mexico to keep pace with fishing pressure,” said Dr. Shipp. “Taking it out makes no sense whatsoever.”
To learn more about this issue, visit the Rigs to Reefs page on the CCA website, www.JoinCCA.org.
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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: artificial habitat, artificial reefs, gulf council, rigs to reefs
Posted in CCA Gulf of Mexico | No Comments »
Latest reefing effort brings partners together to create near-shore reef fish habitat
Coastal Conservation Association has announced plans for a $100,000 reef project off the Texas mid-coast, funded by CCA Texas, CCA National’s Building Conservation Habitat Program, Shell, Shimano and Frabill, in partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Artificial Reef Program. This latest step in CCA’s reefing program will bring valuable reef fish habitat and angling opportunities in the heart of the Texas coast at a time when it is needed most.
“In dealing with Gulf reef fish issues, working on advocacy issues alone is not enough,” said Robby Byers, executive director of CCA Texas. “Creating new, viable habitat is an equally important priority, and our membership is committed to putting significant structure in the water that will be a magnet for both fish and anglers. We are proud to be building a string of reefs along the coast, and proud to be working with corporate partners like Shimano and Shell to improve marine habitat and angling opportunities.”
“CCA does a first-rate job of initiating progressive efforts on behalf of people who fish in coastal regions,” said Phil Morlock, Director, Environmental Affairs, Shimano American Corp. “Thanks to CCA and Shell, this Texas reef project will provide great fishing opportunities for generations of anglers to enjoy and we are pleased to be a partner in this conservation effort.”
CCA’s habitat efforts combine both state chapter and national components of the organization. Last August, CCA Texas funded $50,000 for the expansion of the Vancouver Reef off Freeport, and has earmarked another $50,000 for a Port Mansfield reefing project in the fall. In December 2010, the CCA National Building Conservation Habitat Program announced a $1.5 million contribution from Shell Oil Company, with the first $250,000 going towards the Independence Island Reef in Louisiana’s Barataria Bay. The Building Conservation Habitat Program has contributed $60,000 to the Texas mid-coast reefing effort and is making plans for another reefing project in Alabama later this year.
“You have to go through a lot of hoops to get projects like these off the ground and into the water, but we are building real momentum with the habitat program. Tons of material are going into the water, and the pace is picking up,” said CCA National President Pat Murray. “When we get recreational anglers, private companies and state agencies all working together, we can accomplish great work.”
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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: artificial reefs, CCA Building Conservation, habitat
Posted in CCA Building Conservation, CCA Gulf of Mexico | 1 Comment »
CCA Texas partners with state to add 250 tons of material to reef off Freeport
CCA Texas HTFT Director John Blaha with Dale Shively, head of TPWD's Artificial Reef Program
HOUSTON, TX – Texas anglers now have more fishing room at Vancouver Reef after more than 250 tons of concrete and granite reefing material were added to the popular fishing site this week through a cooperative effort of CCA Texas and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). The addition of the material marks the single largest addition to the reef since the original Liberty ship was sunk at the site off Freeport in 1976.
“This project is a win-win situation for anglers and for the resource. Creating reef habitat is not just about building biomass, it is also about creating a destination for recreational anglers to access the resource,” said John Blaha, director of CCA Texas’s Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow (HTFT) program. “We learned a great deal during this project and will be looking to use that experience to build more habitat and create better angling opportunities for the future.”
The effort to expand Vancouver Reef began with CCA Texas securing 23 granite blocks from Texas A&M Galveston in 2009. After CCA Texas contributed $25,000 to moving those blocks to the Vancouver reef site, a private Houston foundation stepped up to support the project with another $25,000 donation. With $50,000 in hand, CCA Texas moved to expand the endeavor and sought additional partners. Ultimately, Old Castle Precast agreed to supply approximately 110 concrete catch basins and Dorsett Brothers Concrete provided storage and use of their docking facilities in Freeport.
“Once the ball was rolling, we were fortunate to have Dale Shively, head of the TPWD Artificial Reef Program, to work on an agreement to cover the logistics and costs of actually dropping all that material,” said Blaha. “There are a lot of complex, moving parts to a project like this and the partnerships that were forged throughout this process were key to its success. It was an awesome feeling to watch those rocks finally dropped into the Gulf.”
“This is the perfect example of how organizations can work together to improve habitat for marine life,” said Shively. “I look forward to working with CCA Texas on many more reefing projects.”
The CCA Texas habitat initiative was launched in 2009 and has already set in motion a number of projects important to Texas recreational anglers. In addition to the Vancouver expansion, CCA Texas has earmarked $50,000 for the Port Mansfield reefing project and another $35,000 for the Matagorda reef project. TPWD is currently securing permits from the Corps of Engineers to proceed with the Matagorda reef. Visit www.CCATexas.org for more information.
Detailed maps of the Vancouver and other reef sites are available from TPWD’s Artificial Reef Program, http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/habitats/artificial_reef/
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Tags: artificial reefs, marine habitat, Texas
Posted in CCA Building Conservation, CCA Gulf of Mexico | 3 Comments »
Jailhouse Reef under construction
A joint effort to build a new reef off Mississippi’s coast from the remains of a jailhouse destroyed by Hurricane Katrina is nearing completion. The Department of Marine Resources, U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor’s office, Coastal Conservation Association Mississippi and Mississippi Gulf Fishing Banks joined forces to build a new fishing reef in 8 feet of water, close to Buccaneer and Bayou Caddy. Jailhouse Reef will consist of three legs built in a half-moon shape. Spaces 10 to 15 feet wide are being placed between the legs, to facilitate water flow.
“With the looming environmental impacts of an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, creating habitat with projects like this has never been more important,” said Pat Murray, president of CCA.
The structure is being built of old concrete being donated by various sources, including the cities of Bay St. Louis and Waveland and Hancock County. Jailhouse Reef is so-named because its primary source of concrete comes from the former Hancock County Jail in Old Town in Bay St. Louis. The jail was ruined by high water and winds from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Concrete from the old jail will constitute much of the new reef, which will not only provide fish habitat but also help prevent beach erosion. The new reef is the third reef constructed off Mississippi in recent years, following Handkerchief Shoal Key off Bay St. Louis and another reef located south of Deer Island in Harrison County.
Tags: artificial reefs, Mississippi
Posted in CCA Building Conservation | No Comments »
CCA Louisiana and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enhanced two artificial reefs in Lake Pelto that will increase fisheries habitat while providing anglers with fishing opportunities within minutes of landings in Cocodrie and Dulac. The reefs were constructed of limestone, which provides hard-bottom habitat and are between one and two acres in size.
Bird Island Artificial Reef near Isle Denere was constructed in 2002 by CCA Louisiana, and Point Mast Artificial Reef near Wine Island was constructed by LDWF in 1985. Each of the sites will be rebuilt with 3,500 tons of limestone barged in from Kentucky to Lake Pelto, just off the coast of Terrebonne Parish.
Reef building materials were barged to the site and deployed by Bertucci Contractors at water depths averaging approximately 10 feet, providing bottom relief increases of 2 feet from current levels. Construction of the reef was initiated by a CCA Louisiana proposal to dedicate a portion of the Katrina recovery funds to repair damaged fisheries habitat. CCA Louisiana, LDWF, NOAA Office of Coast Survey, and T. Baker Smith of Houma partnered to complete this project.
CCA Louisiana President Gus Schram of Lake Charles said the reef project is an example of how private, public and non-profit organizations can work together for projects that bring about positive results.
“The artificial reefs CCA has helped build are big hits with fishermen,” said Schram. “These new close-to-shore reefs are very popular with many anglers who can now find good fishing opportunities without having to travel out long distances in larger boats.”
The location of the reef will be posted on the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries web site, www.wlf.state.la.us and at www.CCALouisiana.com.
Tags: artificial reefs
Posted in CCA Building Conservation | No Comments »
