NEWSROOM
Artificial
Reef Expanded at Redfish Point in Vermilion Bay
August 9, 2006
An artificial
reef in western Vermilion Bay, just south of Intracoastal City,
Louisiana was expanded over the weekend of August 5. The reef,
Redfish Point, was once a very productive reef, but has deteriorated
in recent years. This enhancement to the Louisiana Artificial
Reef Program will increase the hard bottom-fishing habitat for
Louisiana anglers.
"This
area was once a series of relic shell beach ridges that has eroded
away over time due to coastal erosion problems and restoring it
should help to bring back the abundant fisheries that existed
in that part of Vermilion Bay for many years. In the late 1970's
and again in the 1990's LDWF began restoring the area with the
addition of relic clam shell. Restoration of this reef has become
even more critical after damages caused by Hurricane Rita's storm
surge and wave action," said Paul Cook, biologist manager
of LDWF's Marine Fisheries Division New Iberia office.
The Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in partnership with the Coastal
Conservation Association of Louisiana along with the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Lafayette Office) is coordinating
the effort to rebuild the reef at Redfish Point. The reef project
received a huge boost when Shell Oil Company announced its donation
of $100,000 to the reef. Funding was also provided by CCA Louisiana
Matt Durand Construction and NAPA Auto Parts.
"Partnerships
of this type make up the backbone of LDWF's Artificial Reef Programs,"
said Rick Kasprzak, LDWF's Marine Fisheries Division artificial
reef coordinator.
The reef will
benefit Louisiana's growing recreational fishing industry, which
has a total economic impact of over $1.6 billion on the state's
economy. "The Redfish Point reef is a long-term project,
which will make this important area even more attractive to anglers,"
said Jeff Angers, executive director of CCA Louisiana.
The reef is
constructed of approximately 3,500 tons of crushed limestone,
which is the material of choice for the creation of low-profile
artificial reefs. It minimizes the impacts on other user groups
such as shrimping and navigational interests. The limestone was
transported directly to Vermilion Bay from the quarry in Missouri
via the Mississippi River and Intracoastal Waterway. The reef
material was unloaded and placed on the floor of Vermilion Bay
(latitude 29 degrees 40 minutes 40 seconds N and longitude 92
degrees 07 minutes 06 seconds W).
The reef's
location will be listed on LDWF's Web site at www.wlf.louisiana.gov
and CCA's Web site at www.CCALouisiana.com.
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