calcasieu lake and oyster task force
 

Anyone else read the article in the American Press this morning?

Sounds like they are trying to move the open area further north because there are no oysters left down south.

There goes the estuary.

I'll try and find it online and see if I can post it.

Now that you say that yesterday I saw an oyster boat around turners feeling around with a pole for oysters. They need to get the hell out of the lake! You cant fish west cove without them all around you.

the corruption goes so deep with the LDWF it's unreal

Easy guys..............it takes oyster harvest to make oyster reefs, so in theory, this may be a good thing. Not sure how many of you guys know Lara Ballard, formerly w/ CCA and the LDWF, but she is a biologist. She has also given some good data on research which shows the harvest of oysters makes the reefs grow and remain healthy. It just sucks that some of the boats are so nasty and treat the area crappy!

I don't doubt the science,only our states lack of leardership on the issue of harvest. The mindset of many in our state is get as much as you can as fast as you can. Can't take 100% of the resource and have any left for the future but some will never understand this logic.

No
 

This is absolutely wrong. If this were the case, no oyster reefs would have originated anywhere without the great help of oyster fisherman. They do way way more harm than good they desacrate reefs to the point where they are barren. Two huge reefs in west cove are gone nothing but flat hard ground NOTHING, I have waded these flats for years and the reefs are gone. Nothing grone back since last oyster season..

In an age where pasturized oysters are so prevalent it makes no sense at all to rape our natural reefs. Which act as filtrition to our lakes water. Also provide feeding and spawning areas for our fish in Calcasieu..

No more dreading! Send them back to polling for there oyster

On these oyster reef projects one of the limiting resources for these projects is actually finding leftover shells to put in place for the reefs. Oyster larvae ('spat') have to find a hard surface to attach to, and this is where leftover oyster shells come into play. Once they have a hard surface to attach to they can multiply and expand. I listened to a talk on oysters not long ago and in Louisiana we get to 'spat runs' a year which was interesting. Also, another topic came up and that was Sabine Lake. I have never been there, but surely many of you have. In the south end of the lake is a HUGE oyster reef that hasn't been harvested in years. Can't remember how long, but this thing is huge and is coming up for reopening either this year or next year. Well, it hasn't been harvested in years, so there is NO reason to allow harvest now, the oystermen have been doing fine without this being open. When they were taking samples the biologists were amazed at the clarity of water near the reef.

Ughhhh! it is just like the dog hunting debate! Some people can not put personal feelings aside to see the truth and will only believe what they want to think is true because of what they percieve.

You obviously have not been to the real oyster grounds of south LA from Dularge down to Lafite. If you would spend anytime at all down there you would understand. Big Lake is a very small estuary compared to those areas with as many or more sport fisherman. Thus, a whole different problem occurs - fishing pressure. The fishing around Dularge, where my dad has a camp is fantastic, and we have a ton of oyster boats. Now, I hate them for a different reason, but you obviously know nothing about oyster harvesting, and your statement is funny!

Harvesting oysters will help a reef grow... Its is true... But raping oysters reefs like we are seeing in big lake is a different story! You should tong for 3 years than dredge for one...

And FFF Lara Ballard is not a Biologist

-
 

It does help promote growth of reefs and ur right it prob does work out in a larger area, but having 70 oyster boats dragging chains and wire baskets within a mile radius Leaving Absoltuly Nothing behind is sickening all I'm saying



QUOTE=Finfeatherfur;229099]Ughhhh! it is just like the dog hunting debate! Some people can not put personal feelings aside to see the truth and will only believe what they want to think is true because of what they percieve.

You obviously have not been to the real oyster grounds of south LA from Dularge down to Lafite. If you would spend anytime at all down there you would understand. Big Lake is a very small estuary compared to those areas with as many or more sport fisherman. Thus, a whole different problem occurs - fishing pressure. The fishing around Dularge, where my dad has a camp is fantastic, and we have a ton of oyster boats. Now, I hate them for a different reason, but you obviously know nothing about oyster harvesting, and your statement is funny![/QUOTE]

I don't get it Jeremy! Who says they are raping the oysters, you guys are out there more than I am. However, I am in Dularge more than you guys are and see the Oyster Navy departing the docks and that area supports oyster harvest 500 times more than Big Lake. Yet, the area is actually growing in oyster harvest year over year.

Either way, the oyster fisherman have a right to bid on the lease when the state opens the bottoms up for lease. And the state is trying to get these guys back up and running following a huge shut down last year from the spill. So, I hope that the states biologist are well recieved and the wishes and science of the biolgist is the deciding factor. Unlike the creel limit debate of Big Lake where the science went into the trash can, I will wait to see what develops!

I agree 110%...

I think the 2 fish over 25 inch rule is very effective, or are you just referring to the 15 fish?

Why do I only see them in west cove mostly?

FFF east seed oyster beds....we don't! East has thousands of oyster beds to cover we don't! We have from old tank batteries south to old jetties then all of west cove...which is a small area and a big number of boats oystering same reefs everyday...how can they grow when you rape them to the mud line every year

I told y'all when all the oil spill stuff was going on over here y'all were gonna complain about the oysters.

There is a fella on here that works directly with oyster research and LDWF, I would like to hear his take on this and oyster biology in general.

May want to call her.......yes she is and I know that for a fact. She was not working as a biologist for CCA, but she is.

Please do what you can to have him chime in on this topic!!!!! Oyster boats harvesting oysters does not automatically mean the lake is getting "raped"!

FFF, I agree 100% that harvesting "some" helps, but why do they have to open it further north if the reefs "supposedly" regrow quickly?

I whole heartedly believe the dredges and the way they are operating now will severly harm the estuary. There are more licenses being issued every year. Where does it stop?

Now she is in the Medical field...and maybe she went to school for that title but I have never read one document from her on oysters .

Here is a map of the fire line........Is not exact but this is what I can tell from the Pipes placed now....

here is the major Oyster beds we have in the area....

and I have counted at least 50 boats working this area everyday of the season...

And we do not re seed oysters as we have natural beds....

Yes you can rape them and over harvest!

No longer the lines The oyster boats have been allowed to move north Kiss Commisary goodbye Some harvesting is good but when you overharvest an area its not gunna be good for the longterm outlook for that reef

They cant oyster Commissary :shaking::shaking::shaking::shaking:

So instead of fighting the oyster lease holders, why don't we focus the attention where it needs to be placed? If the beds are not re-seeded in Big Lake, but they are elsewhere - why is that?

I depart Bayou Dularge on any given morning to witness a hundred oyster boats staffed by hispanics with no regard for our resources. I return to see them sitting at the dock, throwing trash in the water, and doing things to our waterways you can not imagine. The state does a good job of monitoring their harvest on my end down there, but the enforcement of their other issues sucks.

you think you can get FFF a job at NASA?

FFF...I am out there everyday, literally. I am a guide on the lake and talk to several of the oysterman on a regular basis. One of them is a guy a little younger than me. This guy has done this with his dad and uncles for years. He has tod me that they are raping the lake. Last year, oyster boats were bringing in over 1000, yes, this is accurate, 1000 sacks of oysters a day. This was from both Cameron and Hackberry seafood buyers. Now, with no reseeding, as in the east, how in the hell is an oyster supposed to have time grow. It takes an oyster 3 years to become mature enough to harvest for the 3" minimum in Big Lake. I asked my buddy if there are any "humps" left in the lake anymore, his response was probably not. While I know he has to make a living, there should still be some better management practices. Like Raymond said, it's the state's mentallity, to get as much as you can. A game warden friend of our lodge was telling us they were ticketing boats that were going back 2 or 3 times a day. It was worth it to the oysterman to pay the fine because they could afford to pay it with the profits of their 2 to 3 loads a day. The same guy would own 2 or more boats and just use those different tags. My buddy also suggested strongly that tonging should be and probabaly will be the way to do it next year. THe base of the reefs are there, but they are flat and barren. You can drag a leadhead across some of those reefs and not lose it.

BD

Pretty sure they can.

So, I still don't understand why they do not re-seed Big Lake. Can anyone help me understand that? I mean not taking anything away from you guys, but they have 14 trailers that load up across from our camp everyday - 7 days a week and that takes a lot more than the oysters they harvest in Big Lake each day.

Good question that I, or anyone that I talk to knows the answer to. Is it because of it being a public oystering ground? I have no idea. It's definitely a problem that needs to be addressed.

This may be something that can be addressed at the upcoming meetings. This could be a great project for Saltycajun to take up in arms and make this a project for us. I know one thing for sure, the oyster men from down in Terrebonne have it going on because those guys actually have reef "growth" down there at record paces, even with the storms!

Ol Mutt Mechanic is he, maybe he will chime in.

http://www.saltycajun.com/forum/show...t=16465&page=5

Good discussion

Agree
 

Completely agree, some of these reefs in westcove were so thick with oysters it was like concrete. We wade these reefs & flats and there exactly how Boat Driver explained barren hard bottom. No oyster growth there sine last spring.



QUOTE=boatdriver;229139]FFF...I am out there everyday, literally. I am a guide on the lake and talk to several of the oysterman on a regular basis. One of them is a guy a little younger than me. This guy has done this with his dad and uncles for years. He has tod me that they are raping the lake. Last year, oyster boats were bringing in over 1000, yes, this is accurate, 1000 sacks of oysters a day. This was from both Cameron and Hackberry seafood buyers. Now, with no reseeding, as in the east, how in the hell is an oyster supposed to have time grow. It takes an oyster 3 years to become mature enough to harvest for the 3" minimum in Big Lake. I asked my buddy if there are any "humps" left in the lake anymore, his response was probably not. While I know he has to make a living, there should still be some better management practices. Like Raymond said, it's the state's mentallity, to get as much as you can. A game warden friend of our lodge was telling us they were ticketing boats that were going back 2 or 3 times a day. It was worth it to the oysterman to pay the fine because they could afford to pay it with the profits of their 2 to 3 loads a day. The same guy would own 2 or more boats and just use those different tags. My buddy also suggested strongly that tonging should be and probabaly will be the way to do it next year. THe base of the reefs are there, but they are flat and barren. You can drag a leadhead across some of those reefs and not lose it.

BD[/QUOTE]

If all these reefs are public there is the reason they are not being seeded. Although i didn't thinkyou could commercial fish public beds?
All the seeding that is going on in S.E. La. is being done by lease holders on their own leases.
They aren't stupid. they know that if they don't reseed a part of their lease every year ,in a few years there won't be any oysters to harvest.
The state is not going to spend money to reseed public oyster beds are they?

Here is a picture of 2 oyster boats in the south end of Big Lake back in Apr. 2010.

I rode around the south part of the lake and into West Cove that day. I must have seen 30 or 40 oyster boats. There was steady boat traffic of them going back to Cameron and other boats return to the lake.

I caught no fish in that area.......water was muddy from the dredging.

Oyster Dredging?
 

Its my understanding that there is research supporting and condeming dredging. I personally see the reefs in the Washout area disappearing and the water clarity getting worse. I see the reefs in Westcove getting raped as well. I do however think that there has to be a happy medium as the oyster fishermen need to make a living also. I like the idea of rotating between dredging and tonging. Dredge 1 year and tong for 3. We also need to look back at the reason Sabine was shut to oystering. Just my opinion and we know what opinions are like.

I like the idea of SaltyCajun getting involved. If you guys can find out who the issue should be addressed to I would be happy to get the ball rolling.

We need to send him our thoughts on the Oyster Process in Big Lake

Lt. Colonel Keith LaCaze klacaze@wlf.louisiana.gov.

Can someone post the article here for everyone to see please?

I don't have an e subscription

Sent
 

Sent W thanks for the info

Thanks, I will contact Keith in the morning and I will post his response if he does in fact respond. Power is in numbers,everyone please let your voice be heard.

Thanks Kinchen - please make sure to ask about the re-seeding issue!

I sent the email this morning and included a question regarding re-seeding. If he does not respond within the next week or two I will send a letter on my firms letterhead to his office. I will post his response here on saltycajun.

"Crime scene tape" around my favorite oyster clumps...LOL

I emailed someone on this issue when we talked about it last year and posted his response. Forgot what he said. Maybe I can find it.

Found it! From April 2010. What a surprise. I never heard back from him.

Response I got from Patrick Banks concerning oyster dredging.


Mr. Dupuis:
I met this morning with my bosses, including Assistant Secretary Randy
Pausina, about your concerns. *We are continuing to review biological
and harvest data, and are assessing the fisheries resources in the lake.
Following the completion of that review, we will provide more
information to you. *We appreciate your concern for and interest in our
renewable natural resources in Calcasieu Lake.

Patrick Banks

Patrick D. Banks
Marine Fisheries Biologist
LDWF Marine Fisheries Division
225.765.2370
225.765.2489 (FAX)


-----Original Message-----
From: Seth Dupuis [mailto:sethdupuis2002@yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2010 8:11 PM
To: Banks, Patrick
Subject: Oyster Dredging

Mr Banks
Please do something about the oyster dredging on Big Lake. It is going *
to ruin our fishing habitats. They are everywhere!
Thank you
Seth Dupuis

Sent from my iPhone

Email him again and include his response from last year. Ask him if they have enough data now since if left unchecked, there will be no reefs left to gather data from!!! Sending my email with cc's to all involved when I get back to the office.

EMAIL:
Patrick Banks
pbanks@wlf.la.gov
Oyster Division

Try this guy too. I'll post his response if I receive one. I attached the original email along with this:

Mr Banks,
Just wondering if you guys are done with your assessment. I received this response from you almost a year ago. Was just wondering if you have some new information on this issue. The reefs that were dredged in the lake are now no more. No re-seeding has been done. Please let me know any recent information you have on this issue that is concerning myself along with 100s of others in the Calcasieu Lake fishing community.
Seth Dupuis

Guys. I haven't been on salty for a few days things have just been kinda crazy with life and school. Specifically what all are you guys looking for answers to? Do you want to just change legislation to slow down oyster harvesting with the tongs vs. the dredging? Or are we looking more toward trying to rebuild what the oystermen have messed up? Or both? I can see what I can do and find out who to talk to about your concerns. We mainly deal with oyster farming, but I can talk to my boss and see who would be the best people to start talking to.

I spoke with someone about the issue today. I don't think they were truly aware of the "feelings" about the oyster dredging. He talked about possible setting up some meetings to have some discussion on the matter to try and resolve this.

Probably the only way to make any changes will be legislatively. That said, like mutt said, what do we want to accomplish?

They have harvested almost 3 times what they did last year. Also, the fire line has been okayed to move north, somewhere around the first set of weirs, but has not been moved yet.

I am not against anyone making a living on the lake, but there needs to be some comprimise somewhere. Perhaps something along the line of how the red snapper harvest is done.

Also, I beleive it would be nice to have CCA involved in this.