June Lagniappe

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June Lagniappe

The June 2013 edition of the Lagniappe Fisheries Newsletter is now available at the following link:

 

http://www.seagrantfish.lsu.edu/resources/lagniappe/2013.htm

Free Required Permit For Offshore Anglers

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yellowfin tuna, Louisiana, offshore recreational permit

With the spring in full swing the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries takes this opportunity to remind anglers of the free, required offshore landing permit.  The permit is required for all anglers, including anglers not normally required to possess a recreational fishing license, possessing tunas, billfish, swordfish, amberjacks, groupers and snappers (except gray snapper), and hinds.

As Louisiana continues to make the case for regional management and the extension of Louisiana’s red snapper season, it is more important now than ever that anglers provide LDWF biologists with this critical data that will only strengthen our fight.

The permit is available at no cost to the public.

Get the Permit

To obtain a Recreational Offshore Landings Permit click here:  http://rolp.wlf.la.gov/Permit/Apply

Permit Reporting

Anglers who land yellowfin tuna must report that catch prior to offloading the catch.  Anglers may submit harvest reports via the website @rolp.wlf.la.gov, an iPhone or Android application, or by calling the toll-free reporting line at 877-792-3440.

CRCL: Volunteers Needed – Beach Restoration in Southwest Louisiana

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Beach restoration, southwest louisiana.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED- Beach Restoration in Southwest Louisiana

The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) and Cheniere Energy invite you to participate in a wetland restoration project that will enhance the sand dunes along the Cameron Shoreline in Southwest Louisiana. This area provides essential protection for Louisiana’s inland communities and wetlands, and it was severely impacted by recent hurricanes. Volunteers will plant over 10,000 dune plants which will assist in stabilizing and capturing sand in the hopes of building dunes. In addition, the project will also create wildlife habitat and increase species diversity.

When:	Saturday, June 22, 2013
	9 a.m. till no later than 2 p.m.
Where:	Cameron Shoreline – Long Beach Road (10 miles west of Holly Beach, LA)

All equipment (shovels, gloves, etc.) will be provided.

Lunch and drinks will be provided to all volunteers.

Minimum age for volunteers is 10, but all minors must be accompanied by an adult.

We request that all volunteers please register so we can plan for the correct number of volunteers. You can complete an online registration form below or call the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana at1-(888)-LACOAST for more information.

We understand that plans can change. If, after registering, you find you are unable to attend the event, please email Coalition@crcl.org and let us know if you have to cancel so we can make your spot available to other potential volunteers.
Additional project partners include: State Farm Insurance, the Disney “Friends for Change” program, and Restore America’s Estuaries.

LDWF Schedules Drawdown for Lake Bistineau

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Drawdown, lake bistineau

Schedules Drawdown for Lake Bistineau

(June 13, 2013) – The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will initiate a drawdown on Lake Bistineau within the coming week in its attempt to address the spread of giant salvinia, an invasive aquatic weed, which tends to proliferate as summertime temperatures increase.

Based on a recent aerial survey, plant coverage currently exceeds 4,000 acres, creating the need for an immediate drawdown.

Most salvinia in Lake Bistineau is currently confined to the upper reaches of the impoundment by thick standing timber.  Floating boom material has also been deployed as a precautionary measure to prevent the plant from drifting downstream.  The boom also concentrates the plants, making herbicide applications more efficient.

The drawdown plans include a dewatering of 4 to 6 inches per day, not to exceed 7 feet below normal pool stage.  Following an initial drying period of 60 days, the control gates will be operated for minor water fluctuations to isolate additional salvinia plants.  The gates will be closed no later than November 30, 2013, to allow the lake to refill.

The lake will not be closed to fishing during the drawdown, but caution is advised of boaters during the low water period as boat lanes will not provide normal clearance for underwater obstructions.

During the drawdown period, an estimated 8,000 acres of water will remain in the lake.  Boaters will be able to access the lake from the following public boat launches:  Port of Bistineau Launch, Bossier Public Launch, Grice’s and Bayou Dorcheat Public Launch.

For further information regarding the drawdown, contact Evan Thames, LDWF Biologist Manager, at (318) 371-5216 or ethames@wlf.la.gov.

Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board Regular Meeting Agenda

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Louisiana, Seafood marketing, seafood promotion and marketing board

June 19, 2013
10:00am
5th Floor Conference Room, Capitol Annex Building
1051 N. Third Street, Baton Rouge, La 70802

1. Call to order and introduction of guests

2. Opening Remarks by Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne

3. Approval of the May 15, 2013 Minutes

4. Election of officers
   1. Vice Chairman/Chairman-elect
   2. Secretary-Treasurer

5. Committee Appointments

6. Legislative Update
   1. Technical By-law Revision

7. Treasurer’s Report through May 31, 2013
   1. Adoption of Fiscal Year 2014 Budget

8. BP Memorandum of Understanding
   1. Amendment to extend
   2. Adoption of BP Extended Budget
   3. Resolution authorizing Executive Director to enter into contracts

9. Seafood Marketing Campaign
   1. GCR
   2. Newsroom Ink
   3. The Food Group
   4. Graham Group

10. Public comment

11. Next Regular Meeting is scheduled for August 14, 2013

12. Adjourn

Louisiana’s 11th Annual Environmental Awareness Student Art and Language Arts Contest Winners Announced

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environmental awareness student art, Louisiana

State winners have been announced for the 11th Annual Environmental Awareness Student Art and Language Arts Contest. This contest is sponsored by the Louisiana Environmental Education Commission (LEEC) through the generous support of the Alcoa Foundation. The Alcoa Foundation has sponsored this statewide program for the past 10 years.

The winners were selected from 792 entries submitted by kindergarten through twelfth grade students representing ninety-four schools across the state. Students could submit entries in both art and language arts in four separate age categories. Art entries were required to be in color and participants could use a variety of media, including crayons, colored pencils, and watercolors. Language arts entries could be written as a story, reflection, creative narrative, or poetry. Entries were judged on artistic quality, creativity, and how well the piece represented this year’s theme, “Louisiana’s Natural Resources: What’s Important to You?”

The Louisiana students will be honored for their winning entries at an awards reception to be held in Baton Rouge at the Governor’s Mansion on Wednesday, June 12, 2013. Secretary Stephen Chustz, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, will deliver the congratulatory address and Connie Conner, LEEC past chair, will serve as master of ceremonies.

The students’ families, teachers, and principals are invited to attend the reception. Members of the contest judging panel, the LEEC, and Alcoa Foundation representatives will be in attendance to honor these outstanding students.

Prizes awarded to the contestants include $200 for first place, $100 for second place, and $75 for third place. Winning art and language art entries will be used to create the 2014 Environmental Awareness calendar, which will be distributed statewide. Winning language arts entries will be published in newspapers and winning art entries will be placed on billboards in the winners’ local areas.

The 11^th Annual Environmental Awareness Student Art and Language Arts winners are as follows:

Language Arts Winners

Group 1 (ages 5-7)

1^st Emilee King, Chesbrough Elementary School, Tangipahoa Parish

Group 2 (age 8-10)

1^st  Lakin Graham, Chesbrough Elementary School, Tangipahoa Parish

2^nd  Owen Brouillette, Homeschooled, West Feliciana Parish

3^rd Lizzie Robert, Isidore Newman School, Jefferson Parish

Group 3 (ages 11-13)

1^st  Paycen Brouillette, Homeschooled, West Feliciana Parish

2^nd  Clay Knight, Lockport Middle School, Lafourche Parish

3^rd  Shayley Naquin, St. Gregory Catholic School, Terrebonne Parish

Group 4 (ages 14-18)

1^st  Tara Guy, Mount Hermon School, Washington Parish

2^nd  Brooke Lawson, Grace King High School, Jefferson Parish

3^rd  Maddy McDade, DeRidder Jr. High School, Beauregard Parish

Special Recognition

Michelle Lee, Episcopal High School, East Baton Rouge Parish

Art Winners

Group 1 (ages 5-7)

1^st  Noah Guidroz, Port Barre Elementary School, St. Landry Parish

2^nd  Levi Graham, Chesbrough Elementary School, Tangipahoa Parish

3^rd  Noah Katner, Lusher Charter School, Orleans Parish

Group 2 (age 8-10)

1^st  Ashini Modi, South Highlands Magnet, Caddo Parish

2^nd  Anna Johnson, Isidore Newman School, Jefferson Parish

3^rd  Ethan Guidroz, Lockport Upper Elementary, Lafourche Parish

Group 3 (ages 11-13)

1^st  Trenece Robertson, Port Barre High School, St. Landry Parish

2^nd  Kyle Miller, S. P. Arnett Middle School, Calcasieu Parish

3^rd  Christian Torres, Curtis Elementary, Bossier Parish

Group 4 (ages 14-18)

1^st  Tuyen Dang, Helen Cox High School, Jefferson Parish

2^nd  Brenden Ledet, Bayou Blue Middle School, Lafourche Parish

3^rd  Victoria-Duyen Chu, Helen Cox High School, Jefferson Parish

Final 2013 Federal Red Snapper Season Set for Louisiana

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red snapper

Today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries took official action to match the modified 2013 federal red snapper season.  The seven-day season will now last through June 29, at 12:01 a.m., with a two fish limit at 16-inch minimum total length.

Yesterday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the change to the federal season, as a result of a ruling by the U.S. District Court in Brownsville, Texas which set aside an emergency rule that would allow NOAA the authority to adjust seasons off each Gulf of Mexico state based on whether their state-water seasons and bag limits were consistent with federal regulations.

As a result of this court decision, the federal recreational red snapper season must be the same in federal waters off all five Gulf States. NOAA extended federal seasons off Louisiana, Texas and Florida. NOAA Fisheries projects the Gulf-wide federal recreational red snapper season can be 28 days long. Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico will close to recreational red snapper harvest at 12:01 a.m., June 29, 2013.

Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, whose office represented the state of Louisiana in U.S. District Court proceedings, said, “I am very pleased with the Court’s decision. NOAA’s new announcement of a 28-day federal Red Snapper season gives all Gulf Coast citizens an equal opportunity to fish for Red Snapper.”

The weekend-only Louisiana state red snapper season will resume following the completion of the federal season on June 29, with a bag and possession limit of three fish per person at a 16-inch minimum total length.  A weekend is defined as a Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with the exception of Labor Day when Monday will be considered a weekend as well.

Louisiana Oyster Task Force Meeting

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oyster task force

The Oyster Task Force Public and Private Grounds Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Friday June 7 at the UNO Advanced Technology Center, 2021 Lakeshore Drive, suite 210, New Orleans, Louisiana 70122

Friday, June 7, 9:30 A.M.

UNO Advanced Technology Center, 2021 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 210, New Orleans

AGENDA

I.  Weights and Measures

 

NOAA Fisheries Announces the Gulf of Mexico Gag Recreational Season and Modification to the Recreational Shallow-Water Grouper Closure Small Entity Compliance Guide

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gag, Gulf of Mexico, shallow-water grouper

NOAA Fisheries announces a final rule establishing the 2013 gag recreational fishing season that opens on July 1 and closes on December 3, 2013. The rule also limits the geographical extent of the February 1 through March 31 shallow-water grouper closure to waters seaward of a line approximating 20 fathoms. The final rule will be effective July 5, 2013.

Gag Recreational Season
The recreational gag season opens on July 1, 2013, and the rule closes the season on December 3, 2013. December 3, 2013, is when the annual catch target of 1.287 million pounds is projected to be caught. However, if at any time landings are projected to exceed the 2013 annual catch limit of 1.495 million pounds during the federal season, gag accountability measures would close fishing for gag. The December 3, 2013, closure date does factor in the effect of incompatible state regulations by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission that open state waters off four counties from April 1 through June 30.

Recreational Shallow-Water Grouper Closure
The rule restricts the geographical extent of the fixed February 1 through March 31 shallow-water grouper closed season to apply only to waters seaward of the 20-fathom boundary. This allows grouper fishing to occur year-round while providing some protection to species that spawn during February and March. Figure 1 displays the boundaries.

Other information
This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This bulletin provides only a summary of the information about the rule. Discrepancies between this bulletin and the rule as published in the Federal Register will be resolved in favor of the Federal Register.

Copies of the final rule are available by contacting NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office at:

263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

or by downloading it off the Southeast Regional Office’s Web site for reef fish at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_fisheries/reef_fish/2013/swg_framework/index.html once it has published.

Need more information on these topics? Southeast Regional Office’s Web page: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov.

This announcement is forwarded as a courtesy of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.

$10,000 in Reward Money Now Being Offered for Information in Whooping Crane Shooting

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whooping crane

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) officials are still looking for leads regarding a whooping crane that was found shot to death in Red River Parish in April.

LDWF’s Operation Game Thief program, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation and the USFWS each initially offered up to $1,000 in rewards, for a total of up to $3,000.

LDWF Whooping Crane Biologist Sara Zimorski said, “We are grateful to the organizations and individuals who have contributed to the reward fund and we hope this extra incentive will bring forward some leads to help solve this case.”

The Humane Society of the United States and the The Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust are offering $5,000, John Perilloux is offering $1,000, the International Crane Foundation, through the restitution money from the South Dakota whooping crane shooting case is offering $500, the Audubon Nature Institute is offering $250, and an anonymous donor is offering $250.  This brings the total in rewards to $10,000 for anybody that has any information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

If any group or person wants to donate funds to increase the reward amount, please contact LDWF Biologist Sara Zimorski at szimorski@wlf.la.gov or 337-536-9400 ext. 4.

To report any information regarding this whooping crane shooting, please call 1-800-442-2511.

The whooping crane was found and recovered from the bank of the Red River about two miles northwest of Loggy Bayou on April 16.  After a necropsy of the crane, it was determined that the bird was shot with a 6.5mm/.264 caliber projectile.

Investigators believe the bird was shot between April 10 and 14.  The whooping crane was a part of LDWF’s whooping crane reintroduction program and was fitted with a GPS tracking device.  The last tracking point of the crane moving was on April 10 near where she was eventually found dead on April 16.  The last tracking point received was on April 14 at the location she was found.

This whooping crane was released in Louisiana on March 14, 2011.

LDWF has released 40 whooping cranes since 2011 and currently have 25 whooping cranes they are tracking.  This is the third whooping crane that has been found shot with the previous two having been shot in Jefferson Davis Parish in October of 2011.

The reintroduced whooping cranes came from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, MD, and they were placed in the coastal marsh of Vermilion Parish within LDWF’s White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area (WCA).  This reintroduced population marked the first presence of whooping cranes in the wild in Louisiana since 1950.

LDWF is working cooperatively with the USFWS, USGS, and the Louisiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit to bring the species back to the state.  This non-migratory flock of whooping cranes is designated as a non-essential, experimental population but is still protected under state law, the Endangered Species Act, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.