Thoughts on CCA meeting tonight on state of Calcasieu fishery

["W"]

We have a so called dying Marsh ( only in east side ) and we have a dredge pumping out material 24/7 365

But it makes to much sense to put 2 and 2 together and make it useful

Nope just dump the "fluff" back half mile from where you pulled it " She said it goes towards Texas anyway "

[jlincecum]

as for the weirs...Yes they have their very old plan in place that was working before our area was changed by forces of nature beyond anyones control. To think that conditions will return to what they were 10-15 years ago is like thinking you're going to win the powerball every week. They know the conditions and they know what is needed to improve, FRESH water. Yet they seem very content to sit there and collect a check holding the bandage on the wound and complaining about how much blood is being lost. If our state and local agencies and 32 subcommittees are so worried about Cameron parish turning into the next Lake Pontchartrain then why is their only only plan to wait for rain. They are worried about the need for water being so great that it will drop the ICW to a level that will impede navigation but are satisfied with just waiting for rain.

[Nickt87]

Originally Posted by jlincecum

as for the weirs...Yes they have their very old plan in place that was working before our area was changed by forces of nature beyond anyones control. To think that conditions will return to what they were 10-15 years ago is like thinking you're going to win the powerball every week. They know the conditions and they know what is needed to improve, FRESH water. Yet they seem very content to sit there and collect a check holding the bandage on the wound and complaining about how much blood is being lost. If our state and local agencies and 32 subcommittees are so worried about Cameron parish turning into the next Lake Pontchartrain then why is their only only plan to wait for rain. They are worried about the need for water being so great that it will drop the ICW to a level that will impede navigation but are satisfied with just waiting for rain.

BOOM

[BuckingFastard]

the problem: theyre politicians and they lie to get where they want and lie about what theyre doing. we live in the second most corrupt state in the nation, preceded only by mississippi. how do you get money if they (such as our governor) uses money thats been set aside for these projects for his own political beliefs!?

[BuckingFastard]

the "power" is not in our hands. its in the hands of the CCA and similar organizations. they are supposed to be our voice. they speak for our conservation efforts. but they dont. its all about getting rich and lying about it. just a matter of how long you can do it before people catch on and if you get caught

[jchief]

The are 2 ways to change the oyster harvest in Big Lake:
1. Get the legislature to change the law
2. Get the Commission to lower the sack limit more than it is at now.

Ideally it would be the legislature. Problem will be that we need to get statewide support for this or it ain't going to fly. The oyster fishermen are organized and will oppose any change. I believe I can get the bill introduced, but need support first.

CCA Executive Director David Cresson said he had not heard of the rocking of the Washout area until last night and he was going to bring it to some Governor's committee.

As much as it has been talked about here, you would think that he would of heard of it from some of the LC Board members before last night.

[Reggoh]

Originally Posted by jchief

CCA Executive Director David Cresson said he had not heard of the rocking of the Washout area until last night and he was going to bring it to some Governor's committee.

As much as it has been talked about here, you would think that he would of heard of it from some of the LC Board members before last night.

His comment kind of faded out at the end but what he actually said was that he had not heard of rocking the washout area until the meeting was organized in the last few weeks.

The "organized in the last few weeks" comment was muffled when he spoke it.

This is an interesting thing though. Maybe the best thing that will come out of this meeting will be some type of action from CCA on this matter.
I am certainly going to do my best to start attending their meetings (even if I have to join) to start bringing some of these issues in front of them on a regular basis.

To be perfectly honest, I probably fish less than 10 times per year but I am concerned about the future of all of our natural resources. I want my kids and grandkids to remember why this place is called Sportsman's Paradise. I'd hate to stand idly by and watch these resources deteriorate when I could have done something about it. I don't know if my voice will be heard but at least I'm trying to take a stand on it.

[BloodKnot]

I hate I missed this meeting. The group should not rest on the issues of the lake. I hope that a better management of the oystering of our lake is developed and implemented.

I recently visited Charleston, SC. They seem to have a wonderful oyster management system there. I assume CCA is in this area. Seems that some type of knowledge share and didn't ideas should be available.

[jchief]

Article about the meeting

http://www.louisianasportsman.com/details.php?id=6849

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by jchief

Article about the meeting

http://www.louisianasportsman.com/details.php?id=6849

This is a very well written, informative article. Thanks for the link.

Recommended reading folks!

[Reggoh]

Originally Posted by jchief

Article about the meeting

http://www.louisianasportsman.com/details.php?id=6849

This must have been the guy sitting in front of me... He had a voice recorder and taped the whole meeting. He also took a lot of notes.

[jchief]

Oh, we counted chairs last night. They had about 150 chairs out, so I would guess there was 170 ish people last night.

And 60 people viewing this thread

[jchief]

Is this the only law on oysters on Calcasieu?

RS 56:435.1.1


§435.1.1. Oyster harvest in Calcasieu Lake

A.(1) Oyster harvesting in Calcasieu Lake shall be prohibited except by special permit issued annually by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries or as authorized by Paragraph (D)(2) of this Section. The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations to delineate the procedures by which the permits shall be issued.

(2) Such permit shall be in addition to all other licenses and permits required for harvesting of oysters. At all times, such oyster harvesting shall be limited to using tongs, a hand dredge, a single dredge with mechanical assist that has a tooth bar no more than thirty-six inches long; or use of a single scraper with mechanical assist and a flat bar length of no more than thirty-six inches is allowed.

B. All vessels used for the commercial harvest of oysters on Calcasieu Lake must be self-propelled. "Self-propelled" means, when used in this Section, that the vessel shall travel under its own power to its harvest area and when loaded with oysters, shall travel under its own power to the place where the oysters are unloaded.

C. The commission shall fix the open season for oyster harvest in Calcasieu Lake, which shall begin on any date between October fifteenth and November first and shall end on April thirtieth. However, in consultation with the Calcasieu Oyster Task Force, the commission may open or close the season as biological data indicate a need and may manage East Cove and West Cove separately.

D.(1) After considering the recommendations by the Calcasieu Oyster Task Force, the commission shall set the harvest limit so that each permittee may harvest an amount not to exceed twenty-five sacks of oysters per day from one, and only one, licensed vessel. In addition, one and only one permittee may harvest from each licensed vessel per day and no vessel shall be used for more than one trip per day.

(2) In addition, recreational fishermen may harvest oysters as provided in R.S. 56:424(C). Harvest limits for recreational fishermen shall be one sack per person per day.

E.(1) Violation of any provision of this Section or of any Wildlife and Fisheries Commission regulation pertaining to taking, possessing, recording or reporting of landings or selling oysters from Calcasieu Lake shall constitute a Class 4 violation. The offender shall also be penalized as follows:

(a) For a first offense, the offender shall forfeit any permit to harvest oysters on Calcasieu Lake and shall be barred from obtaining such permit for the remainder of the period for which it was issued plus one year, during which time the offender shall be barred from participating in any oyster harvesting activity on Calcasieu Lake.

(b) For a second offense, the offender shall forfeit any permit to harvest oysters on Calcasieu Lake and shall be barred from obtaining a permit to harvest oysters on Calcasieu Lake for the remainder of the period for which it was issued plus two years, during which time the offender shall be barred from participating in any oyster harvesting activity on Calcasieu Lake.

(c) For a third offense, the offender shall forfeit any permit to harvest oysters on Calcasieu Lake and shall be permanently barred from obtaining a permit to harvest oysters on Calcasieu Lake and from participating in any oyster harvesting activity on Calcasieu Lake.

(2) Any person who participates in oyster harvesting on Calcasieu Lake while barred shall be penalized under the provisions of a Class 7-B violation.

[redchaserron]

Originally Posted by jchief

Is this the only law on oysters on Calcasieu?

RS 56:435.1.1


§435.1.1. Oyster harvest in Calcasieu Lake

A.(1) Oyster harvesting in Calcasieu Lake shall be prohibited except by special permit issued annually by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries or as authorized by Paragraph (D)(2) of this Section. The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations to delineate the procedures by which the permits shall be issued.

(2) Such permit shall be in addition to all other licenses and permits required for harvesting of oysters. At all times, such oyster harvesting shall be limited to using tongs, a hand dredge, a single dredge with mechanical assist that has a tooth bar no more than thirty-six inches long; or use of a single scraper with mechanical assist and a flat bar length of no more than thirty-six inches is allowed.

B. All vessels used for the commercial harvest of oysters on Calcasieu Lake must be self-propelled. "Self-propelled" means, when used in this Section, that the vessel shall travel under its own power to its harvest area and when loaded with oysters, shall travel under its own power to the place where the oysters are unloaded.

C. The commission shall fix the open season for oyster harvest in Calcasieu Lake, which shall begin on any date between October fifteenth and November first and shall end on April thirtieth. However, in consultation with the Calcasieu Oyster Task Force, the commission may open or close the season as biological data indicate a need and may manage East Cove and West Cove separately.

D.(1) After considering the recommendations by the Calcasieu Oyster Task Force, the commission shall set the harvest limit so that each permittee may harvest an amount not to exceed twenty-five sacks of oysters per day from one, and only one, licensed vessel. In addition, one and only one permittee may harvest from each licensed vessel per day and no vessel shall be used for more than one trip per day.

(2) In addition, recreational fishermen may harvest oysters as provided in R.S. 56:424(C). Harvest limits for recreational fishermen shall be one sack per person per day.

E.(1) Violation of any provision of this Section or of any Wildlife and Fisheries Commission regulation pertaining to taking, possessing, recording or reporting of landings or selling oysters from Calcasieu Lake shall constitute a Class 4 violation. The offender shall also be penalized as follows:

(a) For a first offense, the offender shall forfeit any permit to harvest oysters on Calcasieu Lake and shall be barred from obtaining such permit for the remainder of the period for which it was issued plus one year, during which time the offender shall be barred from participating in any oyster harvesting activity on Calcasieu Lake.

(b) For a second offense, the offender shall forfeit any permit to harvest oysters on Calcasieu Lake and shall be barred from obtaining a permit to harvest oysters on Calcasieu Lake for the remainder of the period for which it was issued plus two years, during which time the offender shall be barred from participating in any oyster harvesting activity on Calcasieu Lake.

(c) For a third offense, the offender shall forfeit any permit to harvest oysters on Calcasieu Lake and shall be permanently barred from obtaining a permit to harvest oysters on Calcasieu Lake and from participating in any oyster harvesting activity on Calcasieu Lake.

(2) Any person who participates in oyster harvesting on Calcasieu Lake while barred shall be penalized under the provisions of a Class 7-B violation.

Thanks Jude,

Glad you're back to fishing and stuff, last time we talked you were busted to pieces with the neck and such.

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by jchief

Is this the only law on oysters on Calcasieu?

No, these are some special rules out in place in 2010 or 2011. All the other LDWF and DHH rules apply also.

[jchief]

Originally Posted by MathGeek

No, these are some special rules out in place in 2010 or 2011. All the other LDWF and DHH rules apply also.

That is what I meant. Didn't phrase properly

[jchief]

Was wondering if that was you. Gave up fly fishing but back to regular fishing some.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

[jchief]

Also, if you have a FB account, see about joining the LC CCA chapter. I just posted asking them to post meeting dates, times and locations.

Gotta get involved to try and make some changes.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1112.../?notif_t=like

[I make oil]

Look at the Atchafalaya Delta area. All of the islands there where created from dredge spoil. What is the problem with doing the same thing over there?

[BuckingFastard]

return to science is KEY!!