BATON ROUGE, La. On Wednesday, the state announced it will invest $19 million in 15 infrastructure improvement projects to repair the heavily damaged fisheries industry across South Louisiana, the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) and the Office of Community Development (OCD) Disaster Recovery Unit announced today.
"This is the first real substantial investment that has gone directly to rebuild the vital fisheries infrastructure that was devastated by the storms of 2005," said LRA Executive Director Paul Rainwater. "One of Louisiana's most important rural economic sectors is the multi-billion dollar commercial and recreational fishing industry; it's not just a hobby to these people but a way of life."
It is estimated that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed more than $528 million in fisheries infrastructure in Louisiana's fishing communities with millions more in losses to supporting industries. In an effort to address some of those losses, the LRA and OCD developed a $19 million Fisheries Infrastructure program. The program uses Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to provide grants for building projects that improve the viability and long-term sustainability of the commercial and recreational fisheries of coastal Louisiana.
"Making a living from the sea has been part of south Louisiana's culture for centuries," Representative Charlie Melancon (D-LA) said. "The devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita threatened that way of life, but today we are making a firm commitment to the future of commercial and recreational fishing in our coastal communities. By rebuilding what was lost, we are not just supporting a major industry that provides jobs to thousands of people in our state; we are also preserving an integral part of our Cajun heritage for future generations of south Louisianians."
The LRA and OCD conducted four informational sessions across coastal Louisiana to walk potential participants through program requirements. Proposals for projects were solicited in October 2007; 59 proposals requesting nearly $114 million were submitted to the LRA.
"While this program focuses on an often ignored recovery sector, there still remains a great need for more resources to help the communities that rely heavily on fisheries for their livelihood," said LRA Board Member David Richard. "Boats and nets are of no use without the docks, wharfs, marinas and other fisheries infrastructure that are essential to this industry."
Last month experts from around the country traveled to Louisiana to discuss, review and weigh the merits of each proposal. These experts recommended projects to a state team that made the final allocation of awards for proposals in the eastern and western areas of the coast. Proposals were evaluated to determine whether they:
Enhanced and ensured continued access to the state's coastal waters for commercial and recreational fishing, eco-tourism, and development of "working waterfronts;"
Created/maintained employment in the commercial and recreational fishing industry;
Preserved the commercial and recreational fishing culture of coastal Louisiana;
Improved the economic efficiency of the fishing industry; and
Created storm harbors that provide vessels with temporary refuge during future storm events.
Funding allocations and priorities of projects receiving provisional grants are as follows:
Cameron Square Waterfront Development - $3,115,000
Development of waterfront dock and seafood processing infrastructure
BucktownHarbor - Fisheries and Recreational Improvements - $2,100,000
Upgrades to access infrastructure, boat slips, and fishing piers
Grand Isle-Multipurpose fishing facilities - $2,000,000
Construction and improvement of multi-purpose fishing access facility on the Bay side of the island
Venice Shipyard - $ 1,441,961
Construction/improvement of shipyard facilities
Morgan City-Ice and cold storage and wharf repairs - $1,300,000
Ice and cold storage facilities and docking and loading facility improvements
Oyster Processing Facility in Plaquemines Parish - $1,180,000
Development of a large volume, value-added oyster processing plant that will provide the means to create new, innovative consumer friendly oyster products targeted to the national seafood market
Ice Houses, Plaquemines Parish -$1,100,000
Purchase & installation of one 60-ton ice house and needed auxiliary equipment, along with needed improvements
LA Shrimp & Seafood Co, Empire Processing Plant - $1,000,000
Multifaceted seafood processing facility (beginning with shrimp)
Jesse Fontenot Boat Launch - $746,750
Implement repairs/improvements which include protective peninsulas which will provide safe harbor from wave action from the AtchafalayaRiver during future hurricanes
Operation Boat Launches - $730,000
Rehabilitate and/or further improve boat landings in Terrebonne Parish
The Raw Oyster Factory - $500,000
Build and equip an oyster processing facility
New OrleansCityPark Lagoon Fishing Piers along Marconi Dr. & Wisner Blvd -$375,000
Construct fishing pier with adjacent parking lot attached by walkways to the fishing piers within CityPark
Pity, and I was almost beginning to enjoy the thread...... Ahhhh the possibilities I could unveil. Fisheries? fisheries indeed.............................. Written by
on 3/29/2008
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Nope, U got it wrong and that = Z, So you can't touch this.......... But back to the game........... E = ? Written by Riddle me dis
on 3/27/2008
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Yes, that was quite glib.......... And now for some ad lib.......... E = What? Written by Riddle me dis
on 3/27/2008
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Okay finnnnneeeeeeeeeeeeee theennnnnnnn. Everything that can be done, minus what wind cannot do minus also wind getting the required percentage from a harvest of 19% moisture content (you taught I was goona fergit dat huh?) equals exactly what else wind can do. There. Written by kpf
on 3/27/2008
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Smart cookie (cookie, nayuck-nuck-nuck-nuck) But you didn't get on with the rest of the riddle. Now the answer can be presented in Btu's, Kelvin, Farenheit, Celsius, abstracts on humidity, velocity, sqfpm, etc., etc., etc. or any other way you wish to glibbly put it.......... Because after all, I am younger than my hair, and older than my teeth..................................... Written by O.K. Offshore contemplations oh mighty one
on 3/27/2008
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A bushel of corn weighs exactly one half of what two bushes of corn weigh. The marketable price of a bushel of corn is exactly one half of twice what the marketable price is of a bushel of corn. The percentage of allowable moisture before it can be processed in a ethanol plant is one half of twice....... Written by nobody really listens, it's hopeless i tell ya
on 3/26/2008
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Speaking of riddles, riddle me this, how much does a bushel of corn weigh, what is its marketable price, and what is the percentage of allowable moisture before it can be processed in a ethanol plant? And how much energy does it take to get this required percentage from a harvest of 19% moisture content. And thirdly, If wind were used to do this, then what else can wind do? Written by O.K. Offshore contemplations oh mighty one?
on 3/26/2008
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No, cornbread comes from the root.............. er, uh, I wonder where the evil comes from? Written by Is this a riddle?????
on 3/26/2008
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Me Cher, I don't know. I do know dis.... "pie are squared" is not correct... pie are round, cornbread are square. Now, I gotsta get back to providing youse people cheap affordable energy. Written by i guess i coulda used a bit mo' edjumakation
on 3/26/2008
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Ahhhh yes, but one man's truth is another man's lies, or deceit. So tell me, is a baseball bat cylindrical, or is a baseball bat linear? Written by Riddle me this oh cat of 9 Hats
on 3/26/2008
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not trying to deceive... Written by ...too much trouble to remember one's lies
on 3/25/2008
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An honest person then perhaps? Written by I should wonder
on 3/25/2008
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taint on no stinkin' payroll of dem by-you buzzers no sha Written by independent foole
on 3/25/2008
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Hmmmmm,,,, judging from the post directly below this one, I think I am looking at a hybrid, (or an inbred) form of 'staff' infection. Written by If it pleases your worm your honor................
on 3/24/2008
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well i told ya dis... it's some durn ignant to build any daggumit ice houses down heah - dese peoples must not no how hot it gets down heah in da summertimes. Written by can say dat again yeah
on 3/24/2008
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The unfocused direction of these 'projects' are too vast to even begin listing.... I wonder, is there any 'common sense' anywhere amongst the 'intellectuals' that implement this type of ignorant approach to our fisheries concerns? Written by ...Crawfish pie, the jambalya me oh my-o
on 3/24/2008
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