calcasieu lake and oyster task force

[jchief]

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.

[BayBolt23]

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.

[Finfeatherfur]

Originally Posted by BayBolt23

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.

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!

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Finfeatherfur

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.

[mstulb]

Originally Posted by Finfeatherfur

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!

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

[Duck Butter]

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.

[Finfeatherfur]

Originally Posted by mstulb

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

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!

[mstulb]

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]

[LaAngler]

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

["W"]

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

[Capt.B]

Originally Posted by "W"

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

I agree 110%...

[Finfeatherfur]

Originally Posted by "W"

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

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.

["W"]

Originally Posted by Finfeatherfur

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.

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 .

[Finfeatherfur]

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!

[LaAngler]

Originally Posted by Finfeatherfur

Unlike the creel limit debate of Big Lake where the science went into the trash can, I will wait to see what develops!

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

[boatdriver]

Originally Posted by Finfeatherfur

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!

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

[Finfeatherfur]

Originally Posted by boatdriver

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

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.

[boatdriver]

Originally Posted by Finfeatherfur

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.

[Finfeatherfur]

Originally Posted by boatdriver

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!

[eman]

Originally Posted by boatdriver

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.

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?