1. Louisiana Oyster Management
In The Wake Of Major Hurricanes
Patrick D. Banks
Marine Fisheries Biologist
Louisiana Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries

2. OVERVIEW Recent History of Storms Step-Wise Response
Oyster Landings In Louisiana
Recent History of Storms
Step-Wise Response
Current Plans For Rehabilitation
Other Management Actions

3. Historical Louisiana Oyster Landings
Source: NMFS and LDWF

4. RECENT STORMS Hurricane Andrew – August 1992
Tropical Storm Allison – June 2001
Hurricane Lili – Sept/Oct. 2002
Hurricane Ivan – September 2004
Hurricane Katrina – August 2005
Hurricane Rita – September 2005
In general, heavy oyster mortalities associated with:
Sediment and vegetative overburden
Hypoxic and/or anoxic conditions
Low salinity from freshwater runoff
Salinity shock from storm surge?

7. STEP-WISE RESPONSE Fisheries independent biological monitoring
Post-storm biological sampling
Data analysis
Report preparation
Walk The Hill
Develop and submit disaster grant proposal
Prepare plans for rehabilitation activities
Execute oyster resource rehabilitation
Perform biological monitoring
Document rehabilitation

8. CULTCH DEPOSITION
GOAL: Provide suitable substrate for larval attachment and growth
Important habitat management tool
Cultch material
Clam shell
Crushed oyster shell
Limestone
Crushed concrete
Began in 1919
Over 1.4 million yd3
Nearly 30,000 acres
Most recent – Summer 2004

12. REHABILITATION PLANS $13M – private leases Private lease program
$23M earmarked for oyster rehabilitation
$13M – private leases
$10M – public grounds
Private lease program
Sediment and debris removal
Cultch planting
Transplanting seed oysters
Relaying oysters from closed to open areas
Public ground rehabilitation
Water bottom mapping

13. OTHER MANAGEMENT ACTIONS
For Public Oyster Areas
Adjust oyster season framework
Develop harvest area limitations
May set harvest levels
Other protection
activities

14. IN SUMMARY Long history of major storms
Strong history of stable landings
Long history of major storms
Rehabilitation begins quickly
Multiple management tools utilized to
assist with rehabilitation

15. pbanks@wlf.louisiana.gov 225.765.2370
QUESTIONS?
Patrick Banks