NEWS
FROM THE LA. DEPT. OF WILDLIFE & FISHERIES
The Public Information Section of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife
and Fisheries is responsible for the distribution of LDWF news
releases and the department's biweekly newsletter.
2008-186 (June 25, 2008)
SHRIMP SEASON TO CLOSE IN REMAINDER OF ZONE 2
The 2008 spring inshore shrimp season in the remainder of Shrimp
Management Zone 2 extending from the Atchafalaya River Ship Channel
at Eugene Island as delineated by the Channel red buoy line westward
to the western shore of Vermilion Bay and Southwest Pass at Marsh
Island and from the western shore of Bayou Lafourche eastward to
the eastern shore of South Pass of the Mississippi River will close
on Monday, June 30, at 6 a.m.
Effective with this closure, all of Zone 2 will be closed to shrimping.
Zones 1 and 3 will remain open until further notice. State territorial
waters south of the Inside/Outside shrimp line, as described in
Louisiana R.S.56:495, will also remain open to shrimping.
Zone 1 includes state waters from the Mississippi/Louisiana state
line to the eastern shore of South Pass of the Mississippi River.
Zone 3 includes state waters from the western shore of Vermilion
Bay and Southwest Pass at Marsh Island to the Louisiana/Texas state
line.
The closure was announced today by Louisiana Department of Wildlife
and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham and was based on recommendations
made by LDWF Marine Fisheries Division biologists.
The number, distribution and percentage of small juvenile white
shrimp within the area to be closed have progressively increased
in recent weeks. Analysis of current LDWF shrimp trawl sampling
data indicates substantial white shrimp population increases this
week and these additional waters are being closed to protect these
developing shrimp.
Paul Cook, Biologist Manager who supervises LDWF Marine Fisheries
Division operations in the Vermilion/Atchafalaya Bay complex, noted
that high Mississippi and Atchafalaya River discharge rates have
influenced both water temperature and salinity levels leading up
to the spring shrimp season which caused quite a bit of anxiety
among the shrimping industry. Despite cooler water temperatures
and extremely fresh water conditions seen at the season's opening,
shrimp fishermen have harvested approximately 8.6 million of pounds
of shrimp in May (all species combined/heads-off weight) according
to preliminary data developed by the National Marine Fisheries
Service.
2008-181 (June 24, 2008)
GRASS CARP PROTECTION IN A RESTRICTED AREA NOW IN EFFECT
The Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is reminding the public
that the take and possession of grass carp and the use of gill
and trammel nets in a restricted area of Avoyelles Parish where
the department has stocked grass carp for aquatic weed control
is prohibited. This new rule went
into effect on May 20
The grass carp restricted area in Avoyelles Parish includes the
Spring Bayou Complex that includes the Spring Bayou Wildlife Management
Area (WMA), Old River and Little River
The purpose
of this new rule is to help protect the 11,000 grass carp purchased
by the Avoyelles Parish Police Jury and recently stocked into
the Spring Bayou Complex to help control hydrilla, which covers
about 80 percent of the complex’s
waterways.
Grass carp have shown to be an effective nuisance aquatic weed
control method on certain types of water bodies.
2008-185
(June 24, 2008)
GOVERNOR SIGNS TWO HUNTING-RELATED ACTS INTO LAW
The Louisiana legislature passed and Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed
two hunting-related acts into law during the 2008 session that
authorize the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to change
several guidelines in the upcoming seasonal hunting regulations.
Act 22 changes
the age requirements for all youth hunts to reflect 17 years
of age and younger, which is a two-year increase from the previous
15 years of age and younger rule. Act 51 allows
the use of crossbows during archery season for all licensed hunters
and changes the wording from muzzleloader season to primitive firearms
season in the hunting regulations. Both of these acts were
already pre-approved by the commission and their provisions will
be added to the 2008-09 hunting regulations.
“The department and commission are always looking for ways
to make hunting more accessible for the state’s youth and
adults to keep the Louisiana hunting heritage alive,” said
Jimmy Anthony, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF)
assistant secretary. “Act 22 allows two more years
for the youth of this state to hunt during our many special youth
hunt weekends. Act 51 gives the hunter more options on how
they would like to hunt. We would like to say thank you to
the legislature and the governor for getting these two acts signed
into law.”
The new 17
or younger age requirement will go into effect this upcoming
hunting season and will include all special youth deer, duck,
squirrel and dove hunts and other approved youth hunts. This
does not apply, however, to the special early season youth waterfowl
hunt allowed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service prior to the
regular season opening in each zone.
Each youth
must be accompanied by one adult, 18 years of age or older, for
all youth hunts. Youths 16 years of age and older
must possess a hunter safety certification or proof of completion
of a hunter safety course, and a valid hunting license. For
hunters 15 years of age and younger, the accompanying adult must
have hunter safety certification, a valid hunting license or proof
of completion of a hunter safety course. Adults may not
possess a firearm, and youths may possess only one firearm while
hunting. The supervising adult shall maintain visual and
voice contact with the youth at all times and may supervise only
one youth during the youth hunt.
The regulations for bow and arrow regulations will now read: Longbow,
compound bow and crossbow or any bow drawn, held or released by
mechanical means will be a legal means of take for all properly
licensed hunters.
Legal primitive
firearms for primitive firearm season include rifles or pistols
with a .44 caliber minimum, or 10-gauge or smaller shotguns,
all of which must load exclusively from the muzzle or cap and
ball cylinder, use black powder or approved substitute only,
take ball or bullet projectiles only, including saboted bullets,
and muzzleloaders known as “inline” muzzleloaders. Single
shot breech loading rifles that are .38 caliber or larger manufactured
prior to 1900 and replicas, reproductions or reintroductions having
an exposed hammer that uses metallic cartridges loaded either with
black powder or modern smokeless powder are also classified as
primitive firearms. All approved primitive firearms may be
fitted with magnified scopes.
In addition
to the required Basic and Big Game hunting licenses, a Bow license
is required for the taking of deer during the archery season
with a longbow, compound bow or crossbow. A Primitive
Firearm license, formerly sold as a Muzzleloader license, is required
for the taking of deer during the primitive firearm season in addition
to the required Basic and Big Game hunting licenses. During the
still hunt and with-or-without dogs segments of the (conventional
firearms) deer season, the Primitive Firearm license is not required.
2008-178
(June 20, 2008)
FISHING
ON IATT LAKE WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL JULY 7
Iatt Lake in Grant Parish, which is currently undergoing a drawdown
to reduce the infestation of aquatic plants, will remain open to
fishing until July 7.To diminish the possibility of over fishing the lake during the
drawdown, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC),
at its June 5 meeting, decided to temporarily close Iatt Lake to
all fishing effective June 9.Louisiana Department
of Wildlife and Fisheries’ (LDWF)
Inland Fisheries Division had anticipated that the water levels
would have reached the drawdown stage by June 9. However,
due to rain events and a problem with one of the lake’s drawdown
gates, water levels still have not reached the drawdown stage. Therefore, LDWF has decided to delay enforcement of the Iatt Lake
closure until July 7, at which time the closure enacted by the
LWFC shall be in full effect.
2008-176 (June
19, 2008)
SHRIMP
SEASON TO CLOSE IN PORTION OF ZONE 2
The 2008 spring
inshore shrimp season in a portion of Shrimp Management Zone
2 extending from the Atchafalaya River Ship Channel at Eugene
Island as delineated by the Channel red buoy line to the western
shore of Bayou Lafourche will close on Tuesday, June 24, at 6
a.m. The remaining
portions of Zone 2 west of the Atchafalaya River Ship Channel
at Eugene Island and east of Bayou Lafourche and all of Zones
1 and 3 will remain open until further notice. State
territorial waters south of the Inside/Outside shrimp line, as
described in Louisiana R.S.56:495, will also remain open to shrimping. Zone 1 includes state waters from the Mississippi/Louisiana state
line to the eastern shore of South Pass of the Mississippi River
and Zone 3 includes state waters from the western shore of Vermilion
Bay and Southwest Pass at Marsh Island to the Louisiana/Texas state
line.The closure was announced today by Louisiana Department of Wildlife
and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham and was based on recommendations
made by LDWF Marine Fisheries Division biologists.The number,
distribution and percentage of small juvenile white shrimp within
the area to be closed have progressively increased in recent
weeks. Analysis of current LDWF shrimp
trawl sampling data indicates substantial white shrimp population
increases this week and these waters are being closed to protect
these developing shrimp.
2008-177
(June 19, 2008)
COMMERCIAL FISHING FOR LARGE COASTAL SHARKS TO REMAIN
CLOSED
IN LOUISIANA WATERS
Commercial
fishing for large coastal sharks, as defined by Louisiana rule
(L.A.C. 76:VII.357), will remain closed in Louisiana waters until
12:01 a.m. Jan. 1, 2009. The Louisiana
Wildlife and Fisheries Commission will consider the potential
for modifying rules for commercial harvest of these species in
Louisiana state waters after the promulgation of rules in adjacent
federal waters. The
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has closed the federal
waters of the Gulf of Mexico until Amendment 2 of the Highly
Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan is adopted by NMFS. Louisiana has
a continuing closed season for harvest of all sharks in state
waters for the months of April through June. This
closure would extend that closure, to allow time for the promulgation
of rules in federal waters adjacent to Louisiana state waters,
and for the commission to consider modification of existing rules
in Louisiana state waters.During the closed season, all commercial harvest, possession,
purchase, exchange, barter, trade, sale or attempt to purchase,
exchange, barter, trade or sell large coastal sharks or their fins
is prohibited.The large coastal shark group is composed of the great hammerhead,
scalloped hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, nurse shark, blacktip
shark, bull shark, lemon shark, sandbar shark, silky shark, spinner
shark and tiger shark.The small coastal
shark and the pelagic shark seasons will open on July 1. The small coastal shark group is composed of the
Bonnethead shark, Atlantic sharpnose shark, blacknose shark and
finetooth shark. The pelagic shark group is composed of the
porbeagle shark, shortfin mako, blue shark, oceanic whitetip shark
and thresher shark.There is no allowable harvest at any time for all prohibited species,
which include Basking shark, white shark, bigeye sand tiger, sand
tiger, whale shark, smalltooth sawfish, largetooth sawfish, Atlantic
angel shark, Caribbean sharpnose shark, smalltail shark, bignose
shark, Caribbean reef shark, dusky shark, Galapagos shark, narrowtooth
shark, night shark, bigeye sixgill shark, bigeye thresher shark,
longfin mako, sevengill shark and sixgill shark.The decision
was made by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary
Robert Barham under the authority given to the Secretary of the
Department by the commission in its rule LAC 76:VII.357.M.2 which
allows the secretary to declare a closed season. Secretary
Barham acted upon a request from the NMFS to enact compatible regulations
in Louisiana state waters until the NMFS finalizes new rules for
harvest of large coastal sharks in the federal waters of the Gulf
of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. It is not certain when the
rules for harvest of large coastal sharks will be finalized, so
additional seasonal closures may be required to maintain compatible
regulations with federal waters until the rules are established
for Amendment 2.
2008-175
(June 17, 2008)
L.D.W.F.
COMPLETES OYSTER REEF REHABILITATION PROJECT IN HACKBERRY BAY
Approximately
50 acres of the Hackberry Bay Public Oyster Seed Reservation
in Lafourche and Jefferson Parishes were recently rehabilitated
by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF)
Marine Fisheries Division as part of a federally-funded oyster
ground rehabilitation effort. The process
involved placing cultch material (limestone, crushed concrete,
oyster shell) on the water bottoms to provide a suitable substrate
for larval oyster attachment. This effort is the
latest in a long line of oyster reef building/rehabilitation projects
(also known as cultch planting) performed by LDWF in various years
dating back to the early 1900s. Including this project, LDWF
has placed over 1.5 million cubic yards of cultch material on nearly
30,000 acres of water bottoms within Louisiana’s public oyster
areas since 1917.The Hackberry
Bay oyster rehabilitation project took place from May 20 to May
25, 2008. A total of 10,000
cubic yards of cultch material were placed with approximately
75 percent consisting of size #57 limestone rock (approximately
1.5 inches across widest diameter), approximately 15 percent
consisting of crushed concrete, and approximately 10 percent
clean oyster shells. The contractor
utilized high-pressure water spray and a clam bucket to spread
a thin layer of cultch material on water bottoms. This
project is expected to result in harvestable quantities of marketable
size oysters (3 inches) within 24 months post-project. Similar
projects in past years have yielded benefit-cost ratios from 2:1
to as much as 20:1.The project was funded through a congressional appropriation of
federal hurricane-related fisheries disaster monies for oyster
ground rehabilitation and was part of $53 million in fisheries
resource recovery funds passed to LDWF by the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through the Gulf States Marine
Fisheries Commission (GSMFC).
2008-173 (June
17, 2008)
APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR 2008
BAYOU PIERRE W.M.A. LOTTERY DOVE HUNT
The
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is now
accepting applications for the 2008 Bayou Pierre Wildlife Management
Area (WMA) lottery dove hunts scheduled for the first Saturday
of the September 2008 dove season. The deadline for returning
the applications to the address listed on the application is
July 8, 2008. The
opening day hunt will be limited to 75 hunters who will be
selected by random drawing. Dove hunters
wanting to apply for the drawing can obtain an application from
any regional office of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries or the department Web site at www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/regulations/wma/lotteryhunts.A
$5 nonrefundable administrative fee will be charged for each
applicant, regardless of age. Applications must be accompanied
by a check or money order made payable to the Louisiana Department
of Wildlife and Fisheries. Hunters
may apply individually or as a group with no more than five
applications per group. Group applications
should be stapled together and will be drawn as a group. All
successful applicants will be notified by mail. Bayou
Pierre WMA is located in Red River and Desoto Parishes approximately
20 miles south of Shreveport. The
WMA encompasses 2,212 acres with approximately 100 acres managed
for doves. For additional information, contact Steve Hebert
at 318-371-3050 or shebert@wlf.louisiana.gov.
2008-171 (June
10, 2008)
GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL DISCUSSES COASTAL RESTORATION AND
HURRICANE PROTECTION INITIATIVES
Today, Governor Bobby Jindal, Department of Transportation and
Development Secretary William Ankner, Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary
Robert Barham, and Coastal Activities Director Garret Graves discussed
the use of the twin spans for coastal restoration and hurricane
protection efforts during a press conference at the University
of New Orleans Alumni Center in New Orleans.Governor Bobby
Jindal said, “Using material from the twin
span bridges to build reefs like these is a first in Louisiana. In
the past, limestone has been shipped in from out of state, but
this historic project uses material already on hand and reduces
the cost of building this valuable habitat. The remaining
material from building this reef will be used for a variety of
coastal protection and restoration projects, which will also provide
additional protection to our levees. This is an incredible
joint effort and it proves what we can do when we apply all of
our collective resources to our common priority of supporting our
wildlife and fisheries and further aiding our vitally important
coastal restoration efforts.”LDWF Secretary
Robert Barham said, “This
project illustrates what governmental and non-governmental entities
can accomplish in a cooperative effort to benefit the public.” The Coastal
Conservation Association of Louisiana, in partnership with Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana Department of
Transportation and Development and NOAA Office of Coast Survey
proposes construction of two inshore artificial reefs in Lake
Pontchartrain, Louisiana. The reefs are to be constructed
of bridge rubble, will provide hard-bottom habitat and will be
between one and two acres in size. The reefs will be located
in Louisiana’s Lake Pontchartrain at selected sites between
the Interstate 10 and Highway 11 bridges.Construction
of the new reefs are scheduled for spring 2009 in Lake Pontchartrain. In the inshore coastal areas, this program
had traditionally used crushed limestone to construct low-relief “shell-pad” type
structures to enhance habitats and fisheries resources. This
project proposes to utilize bridge rubble to demonstrate the use
of alternate materials for habitat and fishery benefits. The reefs will
be constructed of rubble from the demolition of two 500 foot
spans of the Interstate 10 Lake Pontchartrain Bridge. The
concrete will be removed by Boh Brothers Construction onto barges
and broken into smaller dimensions. The concrete material
will be transported to the permitted and marked sites and placed
on the lake bottom.Reef materials
will be placed in two sites, each one-acre in size but bounded
by a permitted area (each) of two acres. The
locations of the two reefs will be in the 3,200 acre section between
the I-10 twin spans and the Highway 11 bridge near the St. Tammany
and Orleans parish line. The locations will be in the no
trawl zone that prohibits any commercial trawling in the area. The
locations are absent of any other commercial fishing. The
locations will be marked as required by U.S. Coast Guard regulations.DOTD Secretary
Bill Ankner has established a selection team to review proposals
for the use of the remaining twinspans. The
selection team will coordinate their recommendations with the Coastal
Protection and Restoration Authority to maximize protection for
south Louisiana. DOTD has already committed to using outdated
concrete road barriers from across the state as breakwaters to
protect shorelines along Lake Pontchartrain from high wave action
and storm surges. DOTD is currently examining eight project proposals from: Coastal
Conservation Association-Louisiana, Greater New Orleans Expressway
Commission, Lake Catherine Civic Association, Inc., Lake Pontchartrain
Basin Foundation, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development,
District 02, St. Tammany Parish Office of Parish President, Southeast
Louisiana Flood Protection Authority and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.This project
provides site accessibility to a large component of Louisiana’s population from numerous boat launches and
marinas. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
will manage the Lake Pontchartrain Reefs as part of its Artificial
Reef Program. The location of the reefs will be disseminated
on the LDWF Web site at www.wlf.state.la.us and CCA’s Web
site at www.CCALouisiana.com.The Lake Pontchartrain
Estuarine Basin has long sustained a critical habitat supporting
extensive recreational and commercial fisheries. Due
to shell dredging and urban runoff along with accompanying increases
in salinity, the benthic ecosystems have become severely degraded
through the lake. At one time numerous shell reefs composed
of living and relic reef shell were prevalent throughout the lake
and provided hard substrates for benthic colonization. It
is well known that these reefs have provided critical habitat for
a number of estuarine species, including such important sport fish
species as spotted seatrout, red drum and southern flounder.
2008-167 (June
10, 2008)
L.D.W.F TO FEATURE CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVER FOR 2009 DUCK
STAMP COMPETITION
The Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced that
the Chesapeake Bay retriever will be featured in the “Retrievers Save Game” series
for the 2009 Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp, or Louisiana
Duck Stamp competition.The Chesapeake
Bay retriever must be prominent in the design, and each entry
must also include live waterfowl selected by the artist. Artists
may also choose to include harvested waterfowl, duck decoys,
hunting scenes and other backgrounds along with wetland habitats.After 16 years
of featuring waterfowl, the program switched to the retriever's
series four years ago, because all of the popular waterfowl species
had already been used. “Instead of repeating one of the previously used ducks or
geese, we decided on this new approach,” said Robert Helm,
LDWF waterfowl program manager. “We were encouraged
by last year’s participation in the retriever series and
look forward to additional entries this year.” Chesapeake
Bay retrievers were developed to hunt waterfowl under the most
adverse weather and water conditions, often having to break ice
during the course of retrieves. They are powerfully
built animals with moderate size. The Chesapeake’s
skull is broad and round with jaws of sufficient length and strength
to carry large game birds. They wear a double-coat consisting
of a short wavy outer coat containing an abundance of natural oils
ideally suited to meet the harsh conditions of the Chesapeake Bay
marshes.In the winter
of 1807 an English ship with two Newfoundland dogs on board wrecked
off the coast of Maryland. Everyone was
saved and the two dogs were given to a family of dog lovers. They
were later bred with local retrievers and became the new breed
that was first used for hunting in the Chesapeake Bay. “Careful breeding over the years has created an outstanding
retriever with incredible enthusiasm and endurance,” said
Helm. “Retrievers are very popular among Louisiana
sportsmen and we think that some people who might not be attracted
to the more traditional duck stamp art might consider purchasing
a print featuring this dog.” The Louisiana
Legislature authorized the Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp
program in 1988. The program was created to generate
revenues for conservation and enhancement of waterfowl populations
and habitats in Louisiana. During the last 19 years, more
than $9 million has been generated for wetland conservation with
approximately $5 million spent on land acquisition. In addition,
revenues have supported the Louisiana Waterfowl Project, a cooperative
endeavor between LDWF, Ducks Unlimited and the federal Natural
Resources Conservation Service to provide habitat for waterfowl
and other wetland birds on private lands.Entries for
the competition will be accepted from Oct. 13 to Oct. 20. To enter, an artist must submit an original, unpublished
work of art, along with a signed and notarized artist’s agreement
and a $50 entry fee. Entries should be addressed to Robert
Helm, Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp Program, Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge,
LA 70808, or P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898.Judging for the art competition will be based on the following
criteria: 1. Accuracy of form, size, proportion, color and posture.
2. Level and accuracy of detail in all aspects of the anatomy of
both the retriever
and waterfowl.
3. Appropriateness, accuracy and detail in depiction of the habitat.
4. Attractiveness and creativity in composition, subject, background
and lighting.
5. Suitability for reproduction as stamps and prints. A
panel of judges with experience in waterfowl biology and/or artistic
method will select the winning design. Judging will
take place on Oct. 22, at LDWF headquarters in Baton Rouge.The
competition is open to all artists 18 years of age and older.
Employees of LDWF and members of their immediate families are
ineligible.
2008-168 (June
10, 2008)
GAS SAVING TIPS FOR BOATERS
Summer
boating season is in full force in Louisiana and many recreational
boaters are starting to feel the pinch of high fuel prices. The
Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.) has a few
tips that could help boaters stretch their fuel dollars and keep
the fun on the water going all summer long. Leave the extra 'junk' home: Don't load
the boat up with weight you don't need. Do a little spring cleaning
- unused equipment that has been collecting mildew in the bottom
of lockers for years should be left at home. Fuel weight:
Why keep the fuel in the tank topped off if you're only going
out for the afternoon? If
you know for certain that you will not be using a full tank of
gas, then don’t top off your gas tank. This will also
help keep the fuel fresher for those who don’t get on the
water much.Tune her up: An engine tune-up is an
excellent investment and should easily pay for itself over the
summer. Tune your prop: If your boat goes 30
mph with a like-new prop and only 27 mph with a prop that's dinged
and out of pitch, that's a 10 percent loss in fuel economy, or,
you're wasting one out of every 10 gallons you put in your tank.Paint the boat's bottom: When
boating in salt or brackish waters a fouled bottom is like a dull
knife. It takes a lot more fuel to push your boat through
the water. Keep the boat in trim: Using
trim tabs or distributing weight evenly will help move your boat
through the water with less effort - and less fuel. Go with the flow: Consult tide tables
and try to travel with the tide whenever possible. Install a fuel flow meter: A fuel flow
meter is like a heart monitor; when consumption starts to rise,
it's an early warning that something is amiss. A fuel flow meter
also allows you to select a comfortable cruising speed that optimizes
the amount of fuel being consumed. Do the math: If you don't want to spring
for a fuel flow meter (about $300), you can calculate your fuel
mileage by dividing distance traveled by gallons at fill-up. Using
your logbook, you can then approximate fuel flow using average
speeds and time underway.For
information on boating safety or for information on a boating
education course visit our Web site at www.wlf.louisiana.gov. For
more information on BoatU.S. visit www.boatus.com.
2008-166 (June
10, 2008)
L.W.F.C. ISSUES FUNDING TO DELTA WATERFOWL AND DUCKS UNLIMITED
FOR MIGRATORY WATERFOWL CONSERVATION
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission decided to fund
both Delta Waterfowl and Ducks Unlimited (DU) in their efforts
to help supply Louisiana with more migratory birds from the north
at their June 5 meeting.The
commission voted to evenly split the statutorily dedicated funds
among the two organizations. The funds being awarded
to Delta Waterfowl and DU are generated from Louisiana hunting
license sales. Based on last year’s funding levels,
each group is projected to receive approximately $150,000 per year
for two years.Ducks
Unlimited will utilize their money on southern Saskatchewan breeding
areas for wetland and grassland easements, wetland restoration,
land purchase, conversion of grain agriculture to pasture forage,
expansion of winter wheat acreage, and management of acreage already
under conservation agreements.
Delta
Waterfowl proposed using their money for predator management
in North Dakota, wetland/grassland easements via their Adopt-a-Pothole
program in southwest Manitoba, and support for their Alternative
Land Use Services program, which pays landowners to maintain or
develop habitat of value to breeding ducks in Canada. However,
the commission stipulated that funds provided to Delta couldn’t
be used for predator management.
2008-165 (June 12, 2008)
FISHING ON IATT LAKE WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL JUNE 23
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC), at its
June 5 meeting,
decided to temporarily close Iatt Lake to all fishing, effective
June 9, in anticipation of lower water levels in the lake due to
a recent drawdown.Water
levels have not fallen as far as anticipated, in part due to
recent rains, however. Therefore,
the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has
decided to delay enforcement of the closure until June 23, at
which time the closure enacted by the LWFC shall be in full force
and effect.
2008-160
(June 5, 2008)
L.D.W.F.
ACQUIRES 7,200 ACRES WITHIN JOYCE WMA
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), with
funding assistance from several conservation partners, today announced
the purchase of more than 7,200 acres within the boundaries of
the Joyce Wildlife Management Area (WMA) from The Conservation
Fund (TCF). “The conservation and restoration of our state’s coastal
wetlands, like those found around Lake Pontchartrain, are of utmost
importance and these vital resources must be protected for generations
to come,” said LDWF Secretary Robert Barham. “Our
partners are to be commended for making this happen.”The nearly
$2.2 million purchase was finalized during a ceremony at the
June 5 Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) meeting. The
land, formerly known as the Octavia tract in Tangipahoa Parish,
had previously been leased from TCF.“Coastal wetlands not only protect fragile ecosystems, but
also provide important public recreation opportunities,” said
Ray Herndon, TCF’s director of the lower Mississippi region. “This
effort is a testament to the power of partnerships. It proves that
all sectors – governmental, corporate and non-profit – can
work together to achieve great outcomes. We commend all the
parties involved, especially the members of Octavia Partners, for
their commitment to this effort and their willingness to enable
this important project.”The funding
sources making the purchase possible include a National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration grant ($1.67 million), a North
American Wetland Conservation Act grant ($392,000) and $100,000
from LDWF’s Wildlife Habitat Natural Heritage Trust Fund. TCF
was able to reduce the state’s purchase price with $450,000
provided by a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grant through
its partnership with Shell Oil ($250,000) and private funds donated
through TCF by Ameriprise Financial ($200,000).“We have to take the necessary steps to ensure the preservation
of Louisiana’s natural environments,” said Senator
David Vitter in correspondence delivered to ceremony participants. “Our
state’s wetlands support a vibrant ecosystem, provide recreational
and educational opportunities to Louisianans of all ages and are
a critical component of hurricane protection. The conservation
of these unique areas will ensure their enjoyment by future generations
of Louisianans.”Senator Mary
Landrieu, when informed of the property acquisition, said, “This unique collaboration between public, private
and nonprofit entities demonstrates our shared commitment to preserving
and restoring Louisiana’s vital wetlands. I have long
championed the protection and restoration of the vital ecosystem
along our coast, which provides a natural barrier of protection
from storms. I was also proud to secure an independent funding
stream for this purpose in 2006 when Congress passed the Domenici-Landrieu
Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act. Protecting Louisiana’s
ecosystems is not only critical for our communities -- it also
greatly benefits the rest of the nation that so relies on our Gulf
seafood industry and the domestic energy we produce off our coast.”To date, funding
support from NOAA's Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program
(CELCP) has helped to preserve more than 32,000 coastal acres
throughout the U.S. In addition,
$15 million is included for the CELCP in the fiscal year 2009
budget request for NOAA. “NOAA has been pleased to support the implementation of
the CELCP since its creation by Congress in 2002," said David
Kennedy, director of the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. "The
CELCP's objective -- to help permanently conserve lands in coastal
and estuarine areas with significant ecological, conservation,
historic, aesthetic, or recreation values -- will clearly be met
by the protection of the Octavia tract addition to Joyce WMA.““We are fortunate to have both private and governmental
funding sources able to support the department’s land acquisitions
goals and help secure more public land for conservation management
and outdoor recreational use,” said LWFC Chairman Patrick
Morrow.Joyce WMA is
located five miles south of Hammond. The area
consists of 12,809 acres donated to LDWF by the Joyce Foundation
in 1982 and 2,250 acres donated by Guste Heirs in 1994. An
additional 850 acres and 484 acres are leased from the Joyce Foundation
and the Tangipahoa Parish School Board, respectively. With
the addition of the 7,274-acre Octavia tract and the 1,040-acre
Salmen tract also acquired from TCF this month, Joyce WMA acreage
now totals 24,707.“The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Council
works closely with regional bird habitat conservation groups such
as the Gulf Coast Joint Venture (GCJV) to stimulate partnerships
that conserve wetlands for birds,” said GCJV Coordinator
Barry Wilson. “The acquisition of this tract exemplifies
both a committed group of partners and a tract of important migratory
bird habitat.”The entire
area is a wetland within the Pontchartrain Basin and consists
primarily of cypress-tupelo swamp. A large portion
of the area is a dense shrub-marsh community with red maple, wax-myrtle,
red bay, and younger cypress-tupelo. A 500-acre fresh marsh
of primarily maiden-cane is located on the northern portion of
the property. Game species
found within the WMA include deer, rabbits, squirrel and waterfowl. The primary importance of the tract to hunters
is its waterfowl resource. Mallard and woodduck are the major
species using the area along with gadwall, widgeon and pintail
occurring less frequently. Trapping is permitted for raccoon,
nutria, muskrat, otter, mink and opossum. Alligators are
also common on the area. An elevated
boardwalk constructed in 1990 at the northwest corner of the
WMA provides visitors easy access to view wildlife and vegetation
within the ecosystem. For
more information and directions to Joyce WMA, visit the LDWF
Web site at www.wlf.louisiana.gov.
2008-164 (June
5, 2008 ) FISHING ON IATT LAKE WILL BE TEMPORARILY PROHIBITED STARTING
JUNE 9
The
Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission voted at their June
5 meeting to temporarily close Iatt Lake to all fishing beginning
on June 9. The action was taken based on low water levels
created by a recent drawdown that targets nuisance aquatic vegetation.The
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries began lowering
Iatt Lake toward a goal of 8 feet below pool stage on May 12, 2008. Due
to numerous factors including an 80 percent reduction in surface
acreage and recent increases in the game fish populations, fishing
will be closed on Iatt Lake for the duration of the drawdown. Once
the water level returns to normal, which LDWF expects to happen
in October, fishing will once again re-open on the lake.Recent
surveys of Iatt Lake, located in Grant Parish, have shown that
aquatic plant problems have increased to record levels. Infestations
of submerged aquatics, primarily hydrilla, are now at moderate
to severe levels throughout the entire waterbody. Hydrilla
has become the dominant species of submerged vegetation in the
southern half of the lake and is found in waters up to 8 feet deep.The
Iatt Lake management plan includes this summer drawdown followed
by a stocking of triploid grass carp after the water level returns
to normal. Iatt Lake has a large watershed draining a surrounding
area of 238 square miles. This large watershed has made it
difficult to dry the water bottom during the usual fall/winter
drawdowns due to frequent rainfall and fluctuating water levels. After
similar drawdowns on Iatt Lake prior to 2002, LDWF documented
heavy fishing pressure due to the fish concentrating in the only
available water left resulting in reduced catch rates following
the drawdowns. LDWF closed fishing on Iatt Lake during the 2002 and 2004 drawdowns
and documented increasing catch rates after each drawdown.
2008-163 (June 5, 2008 ) L.W.F.C. APPROVES OYSTER CARGO VESSEL REGULATION
The Louisiana
Wildlife and Fisheries Commission ratified a declaration of emergency
allowing permitted vessels to transfer oysters on board from
harvest vessels for mechanical refrigeration within five hours
of the beginning of daily harvest at their June 5 meeting. This rule will
become effective June 24, 2008 and will only be in effect from
May through October for oysters for raw consumption. The
mechanical refrigeration must deliver an air temperature of 45
degrees or cooler. Because of
this new rule, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
(LDWF) will be issuing Oyster Cargo Vessel Permits. The
permits provide for larger oyster vessels equipped with on board
mechanical refrigeration to accept containerized and tagged oyster
harvests from smaller boats that do not have the room to install
a refrigerator and cannot make it back to the dock within the five-hour
refrigeration window. These permitted oyster cargo vessels
will then transport the oyster harvests for these smaller vessels
to the dock. The action was necessary in order to provide oyster harvesters
with a means of complying with mandated U. S. Food and Drug Administration
refrigeration requirements for oysters harvested during the summer
months for raw consumption. This rule will be in compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration
requirements and is in accordance with the Office of Public Health
Molluscan Shellfish Program.
2008-MA04 (June
3, 2008)
L.D.W.F. ACQUIRING 7,200 ACRES WITHIN JOYCE W.M.A. THROUGH
FUNDING PARTNERSHIP
EVENT: The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries (LDWF) and the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission
(LWFC) will host a signing ceremony within the June 5 LWFC meeting
to officially transfer property within the Joyce Wildlife Management
Area (WMA) from The Conservation Fund (TCF) to LDWF.The $2.2 million acquisition will ensure that the acreage, formerly
leased from TCF, will be permanently held for outdoor recreation
and coastal wetlands preservation.The funding
sources making the purchase possible include a National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration grant, a North American Wetland
Conservation Act grant, and Wildlife Habitat Natural Heritage
Trust funds. TCF was able to reduce the state’s
purchase price with $450,000 provided by a National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation grant through its partnership with Shell
Oil and private funds donated through TCF by Ameriprise Financial.Officials representing
NOAA’s Eastern Gulf
Regional Office, NAWCA, Ameriprise and TCF will be in attendance.
WHEN: Thursday, June 5 at 9:30 a.m.
WHERE: The Louisiana Room, LDWF Administrative
Office, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge, LA.
2008-155 (June
3, 2008)
L.D.W.F. OFFERING HERPETOLOGY TEACHER WORKSHOP IN JULY
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is offering
an opportunity for professional development for educators July
22-24, 2008 at the Woodworth Education Center in Woodworth.The workshop
will focus on native reptiles and amphibians of Louisiana and
will include presentations from herpetologists from around the
state. Participants
will learn about the biology, natural history and habitats of
many reptiles and amphibian species native to Louisiana using
a combination of classroom instruction, field observation and
hands on activities. Attendees
will be given resource materials for classroom use and will earn
a certificate for 16 hours towards Professional Science Development.The workshop
will start at 6 p.m. on July 22 and end at noon on July 24. Cost is $35 per person and all meals and overnight
accommodations are provided. Pre-registration is required,
and there are only 20 spaces available, so early registration is
recommended.If you are interested in attending or for more information, please
contact Cheryl Fischer at 504-284-5265 or e-mail cfischer@wlf.louisiana.gov,
or Theresa Cross at 337-491-2585 or e-mail tcross@wlf.louisiana.gov.
2008-157
(June 3, 2008)
CLEAR-SMITHPORT LAKE TO UNDERGO SECOND DRAWDOWN
The
second in a series of drawdowns of Clear-Smithport Lake, recommended
by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF)
Inland Fisheries Division, will begin on June 16, 2008. Inland Fisheries
biologists reported positive results after last summer’s
drawdown and a second drawdown should further improve the lake’s
ecosystem. Clear-Smithport
Lake, which encompasses 2950 acres in DeSoto Parish, has historically
had problems with heavy infestations of water hyacinth, alligator
weed and submerged aquatic vegetation. Over
the years these plants, along with leaf litter from the cypress
canopy, have built up a large amount of organic matter on the lakebed. This
organic matter has led to the loss of spawning habitat for desirable
sport fish such as largemouth bass, crappie and bream. Following
studies into the habitat problems and the possible solutions,
LDWF Inland Fisheries biologists have developed a plan to improve
the quality of Clear-Smithport Lake through a series of up to
three consecutive drawdowns. The plan is to improve the bottom
substrate by allowing the built-up organic matter to dry and decompose. The
drawdowns should also reduce the submerged vegetation. The
invasive aquatic plant, giant salvinia, has become a major problem
in the lake and the drawdown will also help control the salvinia
that is stranded and dries and desiccates during the drawdown. LDWF will continue its efforts to control noxious floating and
emergent aquatic vegetation through herbicide applications in conjunction
with the drawdown. The
drawdown will run through Jan. 30, 2009, at which time the gates
will close and the lake will be allowed to refill with water. It
is expected that the lake will drain at a rate of 4-to-6 inches
per day. The lake will be drained as completely as possible
to allow for maximum benefits from the drawdown.
The effects of the drawdown on the fisheries habitat, fish population
and aquatic vegetation coverage will be evaluated to determine
if an additional drawdown is needed.
2008-156 (June 3,
2008)
LAKE BISTINEAU DRAWDOWN TO BEGIN JULY 15
Lake
Bistineau will undergo a drawdown to assist with the control
of giant salvinia, an invasive aquatic plant, beginning July
15, 2008. This
action follows two large-scale herbicide applications utilizing
spray crews from around the state where over 4,900 acres of aquatic
vegetation was treated, expending a total of 3,656 gallons of herbicide. The
large mats of vegetation should have been thinned significantly
enough from these spray efforts to allow a lot of the giant salvinia
to dry and desiccate during the drawdown.The
lake will be drained 7 feet at a rate of 2-to-3 inches per day
to minimize the potential of salvinia being transferred downstream
and to maximize the amount of salvinia stranded on the bank to
desiccate. Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Inland Fisheries Division
biologists will assess the effects of the drying action on the
giant salvinia throughout the drawdown period. The
water level will be cycled as needed in order to allow the remaining
live plants to drift into areas where they could be stranded on
land as the lake level is lowered again.
The gates will be closed and the lake allowed to be refilled with
water on Jan. 30, 2009.
2008-146
(June 3, 2008)
CHEF
BRIAN LANDRY OF GALATOIRE’S
IS KING OF LOUISIANA SEAFOOD
Saturday’s premiere of the Louisiana Seafood
Cook-Off in New Orleans, presented by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion
and Marketing Board (LSPMB), was a seafood lover’s dream. Twelve
of the state’s most talented chefs designed culinary delights
featuring the main ingredient, Louisiana seafood. After the judges’ scores were tallied,
Chef Brian Landry assisted by Chef Heather Young of Galatoire’s
in New Orleans and Baton Rouge were the winning team with their
Sautéed
Cobia with Louisiana Crab Butter. Second place was Chef Phil
O’Donnell of O’ Donnell’s Restaurant in Ponchatoula
with his Mojo Gulf Shrimp and Panko Crusted Louisiana Crab Cake. Third
place was Chef Brian Smith assisted by Chef Eric Mark of Randol’s
Restaurant in Lafayette with their Kocho Crusted Louisiana Gulf
Grouper. “I took a very simple approach,” said
Landry. “When
you get access to great seafood like we do, you don’t have
to do much to make it delicious.”Other participating chefs were Justin Devillier
of La Petite Grocery in New Orleans, Paul Gibson of Bonnie Bell’s
Bistro in Lafayette, Ernest Prejean of Prejean’s in Lafayette,
Jorg Limper of L’Auberge du Lac in Lake Charles, Duke LoCicero
of Café Giovanni
in New Orleans, Tory McPhail of Commander’s Palace in New
Orleans, Fred Nonato of Tsunami Restaurant in Baton Rouge and Lafayette,
Scott Varnedoe of Varnedoe’s at the Myrtles in St. Francisville
and William Wells of Culinary Productions in Baton Rouge. “Saturday’s competition showcased
Louisiana seafood and Louisiana’s talented chefs,” said
Ewell Smith, executive director of LSPMB. “A competition
with the quality of product and level of talent that we had is
only available in Louisiana.” When the doors to the New Orleans Wine and Food
Experience’s
Grand Tasting opened at 1 p.m., Mistress of Ceremonies Lorin Gaudin,
food goddess and food radio host on 99.5FM WRNO, gave spectators
the play by play of the cooking competition.The first chef started cooking at noon and each
chef had up to one hour to prepare, plate and present their dishes
to the judges. This
year’s judges’ were Chef Frank Brigtsen of Brigtsen’s
in New Orleans, Chef Tenney Flynn of GW Fins in New Orleans and
Charlotte, N.C., Elizabeth Blanc, freelance writer specializing
in food and wine, Mark A. Newman, editor in chief of Southern
Breeze magazine and Hope S. Philbrick freelance writer specializing
in travel, food, wine and spirits. Landry will represent Louisiana at the LSMPB’s
fifth annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off (GASCO), which will
be held on Aug. 2-3 at the Louisiana Foodservice EXPO in the
New Orleans Morial Convention Center. GASCO is the nation’s
most prestigious seafood completion showcasing domestic, sustainable
seafood and features premiere chefs from across the nation. The
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) is a primary
sponsor for the two-day event.Sponsors for the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off
included the Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the
Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, the
Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Louisiana Restaurant Association,
NOAA and FishWatch, Shell, Culinary Concierge and New Orleans
Magazine. For more information about the chefs who participated
in the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off and their recipes, visit www.LouisianaSeafood.com/CookOff. For
more information about the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing
Board and the Great American Seafood Cook-Off, visit www.LouisianaSeafood.com.The LSPMB was created in 1984 by the state
of Louisiana to support their vast historical commercial fisheries
industry. The
board is composed of 15 members and each member represents a
sector of the industry: harvesters, processors, wholesalers,
restaurateurs/retailers, fisheries resource managers, public
health officers and marketing specialists.
The board’s operating budget is derived
from license sales to Louisiana commercial fishermen and seafood
wholesalers/retailers as well as state and federal grants. The
Board represents over 12,000 fishermen while promoting and marketing
$2.6 billion of retail seafood sales annually to the consumer.
2008-158
(June 3, 2008)
“SOUTH
FARM” AREA OF SHERBURNE
W.M.A. RE-OPENED JUNE 3
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
(LDWF) re-opened the South Farm on Sherburne Wildlife Management
Area (WMA) on June 3. The South Farm area had been closed since
April 15 due to flood conditions.
Floodwaters from the Atchafalaya River have
receded and the area is now open to recreational activities.
Crawfishing will be allowed in the South Farm area until July
31, 2008.
