Through the CCA Building Conservation Habitat Program, which received a $1.5 million commitment from Shell Oil Company, and through private donors, a new inshore reef was built earlier this summer in Barataria Bay near Grande Isle.
Another post-spill priority is habitat enhancement, with tangible results already complete. Through the CCA Building Conservation Habitat Pro- gram, which received a $1.5 million commitment from Shell Oil Company, and through private donors, a new inshore reef was built earlier this sum- mer in Barataria Bay near Grande Isle. The Independence Island Reef is on the site of a former barrier island destroyed by erosion. The four-acre limestone rock reef creates new habitat for trout and redfish and offers mooring buoys for visiting anglers.
“Our big concern is the long-term
effects on fish populations,” Cresson says. ‘The fish seem to be fine now, but we’ll continue to watch and monitor the situation closely. It’s getting top priority from Governor Bobby Jindal and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.”
Back on the bayou, Bourgeois and his fellow charter operators are hoping more clients will return now that fish- ing is back to normal. His claim for economic
damages is still under
review. “Time will cure all,” he says in his thick Cajun accent. “We’re going to survive. It’s hard to kill a Cajun. We don’t go down without a fight.”
CCA Life Member Dave Lear is an award-winning freelance writer and fre- quent contributor to Tide. When he’s not on assignment, Capt. Lear can be found on the poling platform of his custom skiff guiding clients to tarpon, redfish, and cobia along Florida’s Big Bend coast from Apalachee to St. Joseph bays.
TIDE
Conservation Building CCA
Independence Island Reef project completed!
C
OASTAL CONSERVATION Association has completed construction on an island reef near Grand Isle that is
expected to boost recreational fishing in an area damaged by erosion. CCA began construction on the 4-acre, $500,000 Independence Island Reef, in early June. In May, nearly 8,000 tons of lime- stone was barged from Kentucky to New Orleans by Vulcan Materials. From there, it was taken by Bertucci Contractors to the permitted reef site. Construction of the reef took about two weeks to complete. The reef was sited where the his- toric Grand Isle fishing hot spot Independence Island was once located. Years of erosion and degra- dation caused the once-emergent island to completely disappear. While recreational fishing boats have been seldom seen in the area over recent years, the new reef structure is sure to attract fish and fishermen alike. “The reefs we have built over the years have proven to be great habitat for all sorts of marine species, including speckled trout, redfish, drum and flounder,” said CCA
www.joincca.org
Louisiana Artificial Reef Coordinator John Walther. “This new reef at Independence Island will be the largest we’ve ever constructed, and it is sure to become a popular spot for Grand Isle anglers.” The center of the reef is located located at 29° 18’ 29.40” N, -89° 56” 00.24” W and is marked by several mooring buoys. Anglers have the ability to tie their boats to the buoys without dropping anchor. The buoys are not only convenient but will also help preserve the reef structure against damage from traditional boat anchors. The project is a partnership be-
tween CCA Louisiana and the Lou- isiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Funding was provided through the LDWF Artificial Reef Development Fund and the CCA Building Conservation Habitat Pro- gram, including a lead gift from Shell Oil Co. Additional funding was pro- vided through a generous gift by the Paul Candies family. CCA Louisiana would also like to extend a special thanks to NOAA and Tim Osborn, whose assistance in planning and implementing this project were invaluable.
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