Cooperative Research Surveys for Commercial Fishermen and Dealers

The LDWF has received permission from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Fisheries) to re-direct $13.842 million from the $52.917 million grant (NOAA Grant Number NA06NMF4540319) authorized for fisheries disaster assistance by the U.S. Congress (Public Law 109-234) to monitor recovery of Gulf fisheries impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008.  Initially, this $13.842 million was part of $25.016 million earmarked for rehabilitating oyster bed and shrimp grounds; an activity specifically authorized under this grant.  This money has now been re-directed to provide additional funding (total $18.8 million) for cooperative research programs to monitor recovery of Gulf fisheries and will be used to compensate qualified Louisiana resident wholesale/retail seafood dealers and commercial fishermen who participate by completing cooperative research surveys.  Qualified participants include:

--  Louisiana resident commercial fishermen who held a valid 2008 resident commercial fisherman's license and had combined trip ticket-reported sales valued at $5,948 or more during the three-year period September 1, 2005 - August 31, 2008. All saltwater species landings (shrimp, crab, oyster, menhaden, saltwater finfish) are included in total sales, regardless of the fisherman's parish of residence. Freshwater species landings (freshwater finfish and wild-caught crawfish) are included only if the fisherman resided in any of the 26 LDWF-identified hurricane-impacted parishes.

--   Louisiana resident wholesale/retail seafood dealers who held a valid 2008 resident wholesale/retail seafood dealer's license and had combined trip ticket reported purchases valued at $20,756 or more during the three-year period September 1, 2005 - August 31, 2008. All saltwater species landings (shrimp, crab, oyster, menhaden, saltwater finfish) are included in total sales, regardless of the wholesale/retail dealer's parish of operation. Freshwater species landings (freshwater finfish and wild-caught crawfish) are included only if the wholesale/retail dealer operation was located in any of the 26 LDWF-identified hurricane-impacted parishes.

The LDWF will administer payments to qualified resident wholesale/retail seafood dealers and resident commercial fishermen who submit complete AND acceptable cooperative research surveys. All survey data submitted by fishermen and wholesale/retail dealers are public records under Louisiana law. Under this plan, trip tickets dated during the eligible period but submitted after November 30, 2008 will not be considered for qualification. 

Any questions concerning eligibility, requests for information, etc. should be directed to the SCPDC by calling 1-800-630-3791 (toll-free) or (985) 655-1051 (local) or mailing SCPDC at P.O. Box 1240, Gray, LA 70359-9902 or visiting the SCPDC website at www.scpdc.org/fisheriesassistance.

  -      Eligibility Notice - April 17, 2009

-       Allocated Payments Table

-       April 17, 2009 News Release

-       Sample Dealer Questions

-   Sample Fisherman Questions