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fishermen are reminded of the approaching deadline of Oct.
31, 2008, to apply for the Fisheries Assistance Program.
The direct assistance program is sourced through the Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and is administered
by South Central Planning and Development Commission. Eligible
fishermen should have received an application packet in
May. Eligibility for the program is based on trip ticket
recorded sales or purchases of seafood between Sept. 1,
2004 and Aug. 31, 2005. Anyone with questions concerning
this program should contact South Central Planning and Development
at 1-800-630-3791 or 985-655-1051.
Marine
debris surveying and removal has come to coastal waters
in phases. The next project is a cooperative effort through
the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Coast
Guard, NOAA Coast Survey and FEMA. NOAA’s Office of
Response and Restoration and Office of Coast Survey have
collaborated to conduct side scan sonar surveys of near
shore waters in Louisiana affected by hurricanes Katrina
and Rita. This survey work creates maps and displays to
provide mariners with more accurate and up-to-date navigation
information. The western Louisiana offshore project area
is scheduled to begin survey work by the end of 2008. For
additional information and updates visit: http://gulfofmexico.marinedebris.noaa.gov/Project_Description/
The Cameron
Fisheries Infrastructure Project is moving forward. Funding
for the projects in Louisiana came from Louisiana Recovery
Authority and is being administered through the U.S. Housing
and Urban Development agency’s Community Development
Block Grant Program. The grant is for $3.1 million and is
to be used to rebuild critical fisheries infrastructure
which provides sustainability to commercial and recreational
fishing industries in Cameron. The project is a joint venture
between local landowners, Cameron Fisheries Inc., the West
Cameron Port Commission and the Cameron Parish Police Jury.
Due to the numerous federal, state, and local government
agencies and private landowners and business investors involved,
many obstacles have to be overcome to move this project
forward but progress is being made.
The lower Calcasieu
Lake and West Cove conditional management areas will open
to the harvest of oysters one-half hour before official
sunrise Oct. 15, 2008 and shall close one-half hour after
sunset April 30, 2009. The limit shall be 15 sacks per day.
Public health closures shall supersede these rules.
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