The authority started its assessment of Hurricane Gustav’s impact on state fisheries with a request to the federal government to mobilize assistance for commercial fishermen. It is said that the state officials are lobbying U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez to declare a commercial fishery failure in the state. Such a move would send federal dollars down the bayou for impacted fishermen.
According to Gutierrez with immediate funds state’s fishermen can return to commerce and supply the state with U.S.-caught shrimp, crab, oysters and finfish. It is told that Louisiana’s fisheies incurred heavy loss. Moreover, only a small portion of the storm’s massive impact zone was viewed – from the eastern edge of the Atchafalaya Basin to Grand Isle and through Lake Des Allemands.
A team of biologists and technicians kicked off on-the-ground assessments and water-data collections. Bo Boehringer, the department’s press secretary, informed that further investigations will continue during the coming weeks, so all information being shared with the public at this time is “extremely preliminary” and could change at any moment.
As for the Atchafalaya Basin, Boehringer said there are concerns about the bass population. He added that it has taken the Atchafalaya Basin several years to recover,” he said. “Andrew really snuffed out the bass. Louisiana’s fisheries supply nearly one-third of the fish harvested in the lower 48 states by weight, and a harvest in excess of $2.85 billion per year. The industry suffered a devastating hit during the 2005 hurricane season and disaster relief money from hurricanes Katrina and Rita is still being distributed to commercial fishermen.
U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, who represents Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, told that Hurricane Gustav is adding insult to injury, which could mean a number of people losing their jobs and livelihoods. He told that this disaster assistance we are requesting would help them repair their boats, replace equipment, and keep their businesses going.
