AROUND THE COASTS
Gulf/South Atlantic Louisiana diversion project will alter fisheries
NOAA
Environmental study predicts ‘major, adverse, permanent’ effect on shrimp, oysters
The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project would be built on the right descending bank of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, La.
n Army Corps of Engineers environmental impact statement for the planned $1.4 billion Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project acknowledges it will drastically alter the south Louisiana shrimp and oyster fisheries — all in the name of saving the state’s coast. “Moderate to major, adverse, permanent direct and indirect impacts are anticipated on shrimp fisheries in the
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project area due to expected negligible to minor, permanent, beneficial impacts on white shrimp, and major, permanent, adverse impacts on brown shrimp abundance,” states an executive summary of the report, issued March 5. While it may be possible for fishermen to target other species, that “would require additional investment by individual fishers, which may or may not be financially feasible,” the report adds.
MARKET REPORT: Blue Crabs Crabbers watching nearby states after tight supply in early 2021
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“Declines in shrimp abundance may also exacerbate trends in the aging workforce to leave the industry.” Projected to be built over five years, the diversion plan by the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority could be the first of similar projects for bringing new sediment into south Louisiana’s steadily eroding coastal lands and marshes, instead of sediment washing out from the river mouth straight into the Gulf of Mexico depths. Project supporters say it’s essential to maintaining the state’s land mass and hurricane protection for New Orleans and other communities. Critics — including much of the state’s seafood industry — want to see alternatives that won’t dramatically alter their livelihoods. “All of us in the fisheries industry knew this all along,” said George Ricks, president of the Save Louisiana Coalition, which has argued for dredging and other methods to move sediment instead of freshwater diversion. “The CPRA has always downplayed the effect on fisheries.” “The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion is the largest project of its kind ever undertaken in U.S. history, and represents an unparalleled, innovative coastal restoration effort unlike anything else in the world,” said Chip Kline,
Gerica, chairman of the Louisiana Crab Task Force. “So right now, the prices are going out of the box. This has been a trend now for the
ulf of Mexico crabbers navigated
States, and a lion’s share of Gulf of Mexico
past three years, and the demand is for more
into the uncertain waters of spring
landings.
than the amount of product being produced.”
2021, a year that began with a
dearth of product. “There’s nothing since Christmas,” said
High prices at the dock don’t have a posi-
A three-year program of halting crab har-
tive effect on fishermen when catches are
vesting during specified months in Louisiana
small, particularly with rising fuel prices.
— recommended by crabbers and proces-
long-time crab dock owner Trudy Luke of
Currently, Louisiana crab prices for the
sors — has had positive population effect.
Houma, La., whose family members also
largest specimens in March were as high as
This is one reason why crabbers are opti-
regularly harvest blue crabs. “The demand is
$4.25 per pound, industry participants said.
mistic that as waters warm, the supply will
so high that docks are throwing money out
Number 2 crabs were fetching $2.25 per
be greater.
there. I’ve got a fisherman here who usu-
pound, and very small males about $1.
ally brings in 100 55-pound pans. Today he
Since the creatures migrate east to west,
“Something happened with the weather,
Louisiana crabbers anticipate good indica-
the wind and the cold, so in eastern Louisiana
tions of a comeback when Mississippi, Ala-
Louisiana accounts for more than 30 per-
crabbers are working the offshore edge right
bama and Florida show increases.
cent of all blue crab landings in the United
now, but it’s mostly female crabs,” said Pete
brought in 10.”
10 National Fisherman \ May 2021
— John DeSantis
www.nationalfisherman.com
