The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced 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.
"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 September 1, 2005 and August 31, 2008. LDWF requires trip tickets to collect commercial landings and associated information by trip.
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 September 1, 2005 - August 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 September 1, 2005 - August 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.
