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News Fisheries Disaster Assistance Program Approved by Congress —
LDWF Announces Meetings
Posted: 9/21/07

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will present general information on the new $41 million federal fisheries disaster assistance program at a series of public information sessions, Sept. 25-27, sponsored by the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) and Office of Community Development (OCD).

The LRA and OCD presentations will outline the proposed guidelines for the Fisheries Infrastructure and Assistance Program funded by a $19 million allocation of CDBG funds approved by the LRA.

Following the LRA presentation, LDWF will review the new $41 million federal fisheries disaster assistance program and its intended uses. Funding for a federal fisheries disaster assistance program, aimed at directly assisting fishing industry participants, has been sought by Louisiana fishing industry leaders, Gov. Kathleen Blanco and the Louisiana congressional delegation as part of the recovery funding package following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The LRA/OCD public information sessions, with LDWF federal funding review,
are scheduled as follows:

• 6 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007
  Belle Chasse Auditorium
  8398 Hwy. 23
  Belle Chasse, LA
• 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007
  Cameron Court Room - 3rd floor of the Court House
  119 Smith Circle
  Cameron, LA 70631
• 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007
  LSU AgCenter Extension office
  1105 West Port Street
  Abbeville, LA 70510
• 6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007
  Houma, LA - Location details to be announced
• Additionally, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission will be briefed on the federal funding assistance program during their monthly meeting, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 4 at 9:30 a.m. in Baton Rouge at LDWF headquarters.

To solicit input from fishery organizations, representatives and stakeholders, LDWF will also host a series of meetings scheduled for Oct. 4-12 at LDWF headquarters at 2000 Quail Drive in Baton Rouge. LDWF will be meeting with individual fishery sectors at the following times:

• 1:00 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007 – Charter Boat and Recreational Fisheries
• 9:30 am, Friday, Oct. 5, 2007 – Shrimp Fisheries
• 1:00 p.m., Friday, Oct. 5, 2007 – Menhaden Fisheries
• 9:30 am, Monday, Oct. 8, 2007 – Oyster Fisheries
• 1:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 8, 2007 – Crab Fisheries
• 9:30 am, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007 – Crawfish Fisheries
• 9:30 am, Friday, Oct. 12, 2007 – Freshwater and Saltwater Commercial Finfish Fisheries

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