Louisiana officials are collecting data on the impact that the record-long opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway and flooding in the Atchafalaya Basin had on aquatic life in south Louisiana.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Harry Blanchet says the National Marine Fisheries can declare a “fishery disaster;” however, it requires a 35 percent reduction in the value of a specific fishery to qualify.
“What we are trying to do is put together a compilation of all of these impacts to provide to the federal government,” Blanchet said.
Some of the most widespread impacts, Blanchet said, are on oyster beds, with some areas seeing a 100 percent mortality rate.
“St. Bernard Parish all the way to Cameron Parish,” Blanchet said, “we’ve seen mortalities in the Pontchartrain Basin, we’ve seen them in the Sabine Basin.” He said oyster populations will take years to regenerate.
Meanwhile, the brown shrimp harvest was down as well, but Blanchet said they are not sure what is happening with the brown shrimp
“This past spring was really a very poor brown shrimp season, which is our typical May season, and so we are still collecting information on what that impact is,” said Blanchet.
