The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced today a $15.7 million cooperative research program to monitor the recovery of Louisiana commercial fisheries impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and Gustav and Ike in 2008.
"Commercial fishermen and seafood dealers are part of the fabric of Louisiana and they help feed the entire country," said Governor Jindal. "These dollars will help our commercial fishermen and seafood dealers get back on their feet after their livelihoods were diminished from four devastating storms in just over three years."
Qualified Louisiana resident commercial fishermen and wholesale/retail seafood dealers who participate in the program will receive compensation. Participants must complete socio-economic surveys designed by LDWF economists to capture information on the recovery status of the state’s commercial fisheries and fishing industries. Eligible commercial fishermen and wholesale/retail dealers will receive information packets during the week of April 20.
"We have worked closely with our colleagues at the Louisiana Recovery Authority to make these funds available to commercial fishermen and seafood dealers who were affected by the twin storms of 2005 and 2008," said LDWF Secretary Robert Barham. "By participating in this program, fishermen and dealers will not only receive critical recovery funds, but they will also provide LDWF with valuable information that will help assess the recovery of the fishing industry following these devastating hurricanes."
Eligibility and level of compensation is based upon the overall value of seafood species sold and reported on LDWF trip tickets by 2008 licensed commercial fishermen or purchased by wholesale/retail seafood dealers between Sept . 1, 2005 , and Aug . 31, 2008. LDWF requires trip tickets to collect commercial landings and associated information by trip.
"The fishing industry is vital to our economic success here in Louisiana, where we produce almost a quarter of the nation’s supply of seafood. The direct aid provided through this program will help keep fishermen and seafood dealers affected by the hurricanes afloat," said Paul Rainwater, executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with LDWF as we work to rebuild the industries of our coast."
In order to be considered eligible to participate in this program, fishermen and dealers must meet one of the following requirements:
Louisiana resident commercial fishermen who held a valid 2008 resident commercial fisherman’s license and had combined trip ticket-reported sales valued at $5,948 or more during the three-year period Sept . 1, 2005 – Aug . 31, 2008. All saltwater species landings (shrimp, crab, oyster, menhaden, saltwater finfish) are included in total sales, regardless of the fisherman’s parish of residence. Freshwater species landings (freshwater finfish and wild-caught crawfish) are included only if the fisherman resided in any of the 26 LDWF-identified hurricane-impacted parishes.
Louisiana resident wholesale/retail seafood dealers who held a valid 2008 resident wholesale/retail seafood dealer’s license and had combined trip ticket reported purchases valued at $20,756 or more during the three-year period Sept. 1, 2005 – Aug . 31, 2008. All saltwater species landings (shrimp, crab, oyster, menhaden, saltwater finfish) are included in total sales, regardless of the wholesale/retail dealer’s parish of operation. Freshwater species landings (freshwater finfish and wild-caught crawfish) are included only if the wholesale/retail dealer operation was located in any of the 26 LDWF-identified hurricane-impacted parishes.
LDWF urges everyone who receives a packet to open it immediately, follow the enclosed instructions and return the required forms, using the business-reply envelope provided, by the June 30, 2009 , deadline. Once required forms have been returned, participants will receive an additional packet containing the Cooperative Research Survey, detailed instructions for completing the survey and a self-addressed business reply envelope to be used in returning the completed survey. Funding for this program comes from a $52.9 million federal fisheries disaster assistance grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Grant Number NA06NMF4540319) through the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission.
The South Central Planning and Development Commission (SCPDC) and affiliated planning districts will receive and process all information about this cooperative research program. Any questions concerning eligibility, requests for information, etc. , should be directed to the SCPDC by calling 1-800-630-3791 (toll-free) or 985 655-1051 (local) or mailing SCPDC at P.O. Box 1240, Gray, LA 70359-9902 , or visiting the SCPDC Web site at www.scpdc.org/fisheriesassistance.
LDWF will host a series of six public meetings in coastal communities beginning April 21 to present information about the program and review instructions on participating in and completing cooperative research surveys. Meeting dates, times and locations are as follows:
- HACKBERRY - TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2009, 6 p.m. - Hackberry Community Center , 986 Main Street , Hackberry, LA 70645
- ABBEVILLE - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2009, 6 p.m. - LSU Ag Center , 1105 West Port Street , Abbeville, LA 70510
- BELLE CHASSE - MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2009, 6 p.m. - Belle Chasse Auditorium , 8442 Highway 23 , Belle Chasse, LA 70037
- CHALMETTE - TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2009, 6 p.m. - Chalmette High School Cafeteri a, 1100 E. Judge Perez Drive , Chalmette, LA 70043
- LAFITTE - MONDAY, MAY 4, 2009, 6 p.m. - Lafitte Town Hall 2654 Jean Lafitte Blvd. , Lafitte, LA 70067
- HOUMA - TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2009, 6 p.m. - Houma Municipal Auditorium , 800 Verret Street , Houma, LA 70360
It is estimated that the total infrastructure and economic loss from hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008 totaled over $750 million. LDWF was charged with the coordination and distribution of federal recovery funds to the fishing industry. For more information on LDWF, visit www.wlf.louisiana.gov.
