On Friday, August 20th, Louisiana Sportsman magazine reported that the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission overrode a decision by Louisiana Dept of Wildlife & Fisheries and FDA to close more fishing areas. The Commission held a special meeting and decided to immediately reopen all state waters to recreational finfishing. They stated that all tests to date have shown that the seafood is safe to eat and further delays were unnecessary. The article also covers the opinions surrounding the reopening of recreational fishing on commercial fishing interests. Check out the full article with the link below:

LWF Commission Reopens All Recreational Finfishing in All State Waters by Andy Crawford, Louisiana Sportsman

(Psst, Louisiana Sportsman mag is also a good resource for finding a fishing guide now that the waters have reopened)

As a part of our many efforts to protect our sportsmen traditions and restore habitat impacted by the BP oil spill, the National Wildlife Federation has joined with Women of the Storm to help raise public awareness and support for the critical funding and policy response needed to restore the Gulf Coast.

This week, Women of the Storm released a new celebrity-packed video that features A-list stars like Sandra Bullock, Peyton and Eli Manning, and Emeril Lagasse asking viewers to join them in signing a petition that will help demonstrate to national leaders, the strong and deep support across America for funding to restore the Gulf Coast.

We love the video at the Vanishing Paradise campaign, and we are happy to share this initiative to make coastal restoration a national issue.

Related Links:

Sportsmen Groups & Businesses Sign-On to Reconnect the River

Sportsmen and women are gathering in Venice, Louisiana, next week to show their support for Coastal Restoration in Louisiana. We hope to see you among the crowd of supporters.

What: Sportsman Rally for Coastal Louisiana
**Shrimp/Crawfish Boil and frosty beverages

When: July 28, 2010 4pm

Where : Venice, LA 
Venice Marina
237 Sports Marina Road
Venice, LA 70091-4437

PLUS A CHANCE TO WIN A SHOTGUN!

Help us spread the word. It’s clear that sportsmen like you place a high recreational value on Louisiana’s wetlands, and the catastrophic tragedy of the oil spill may be the catalyst to allow long-overdue restoration projects to move forward.

For more information, please contact Land Tawney at tawney@nwf.org.

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Additional Notes:

7/23/2010 – We are watching TS Bonnie and will keep you updated.

After President Obama’s speech to the nation on the oil spill, Ducks Unlimited issued a statement urging the Administration to accelerate funding and restoration plans for the Gulf Coast. DU gave support for the coastal restoration plan notably known as Louisiana’s Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast. DU’s lead scientist for the Gulf, Dr. Tom Moorman, commented, “There are many projects for which design could be accelerated, and many that are on the shelf ready for implementation.”

Read full statement on DU website:
DU Urges President to Accelerate Funding, Implementation of Existing Gulf Coast Restoration Plans

By Lew Carpenter

Anglers understand the importance of Coastal Louisiana wetlands to both wildlife and people. For example, a recent virtual town hall hosted by National Wildlife Federation drew more than 9,000 hunters and anglers concerned about the tremendous ecological and wildlife impacts of the BP oil spill along the Gulf Coast.

The ongoing oil leak crisis compounds the rapid loss of wetlands and places a world-class fishing destination at risk. During a mid May poll about the Gulf oil leak, anglers proved they have a variety of concerns, which include recreational fishing bans, personal behavior and long term health of fish populations.

The poll, commissioned by Pure Fishing and facilitated by AnglerSurvey.com, showed the majority of anglers put conservation concerns first. More than 67 percent of anglers who participated in the poll said long-term health of fish populations —as a result of the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico — was a major concern.

Those responding to the poll also revealed the Gulf crisis will change their angling behavior in many ways. Slightly more than 40 percent of anglers who planned to fish the Gulf, Florida Keys or east coast of Florida in the next 12 months anticipate their fishing activity in those areas will decrease as a result of the leak.

When asked if the number of trips they take to fish for certain species will change, a third to nearly half of anglers predicted a decrease in the number of fishing trips for saltwater species because of the Gulf crisis. However, anglers indicated freshwater fishing might be a viable alternative. Approximately 26 percent of respondents anticipated an increase in the number of trips to fish for largemouth bass and 27 percent expected to take more fishing trips for other freshwater species.

A concern about government restrictions that would ban fishing also was high on anglers’ minds, with 62 percent rating this as a major concern.

It’s clear that sportsmen place a high recreational value on Louisiana’s wetlands, and this catastrophic tragedy may be the catalyst to allow long-overdue restoration projects to move forward. Reconnecting the Mississippi River with the wetlands is the only answer to long-term health and sustainability of the wetlands, as well as the game fish dependent upon the habitat.

NWF’s Andy McDaniels briefs Outdoor Writers Association of America on organization’s response to BP oil spill

Rochester, Minn. (June 10, 2010) – The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is an unfolding tragedy that is having profound impacts on people and wildlife, the National Wildlife Federation said at the annual gathering of the nation’s outdoor writers.

“We clearly have an epic catastrophe unfolding,” said Andy McDaniels, Coastal Louisiana outreach coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation. “The greatest coastal wetland system in America is at the height of spring wildlife nesting season, including species such as the Louisiana mottled duck. Wildlife in the region now faces the largest oil spill in the nation’s history. It is hard to imagine a more dire situation.”

The National Wildlife Federation briefed attendees of the Outdoor Writers Association of America annual conference on the tremendous ecological and wildlife impacts of the BP oil spill along the Gulf Coast—an area labeled a “Sportsman’s Paradise” because of the world-class fishing and hunting opportunities that draw hunters and anglers from around the United States to the region.

Louisiana’s coast sustains one of the world’s largest fisheries, produces the largest catch of redfish, hosts up to 20 percent of the nation’s wintering waterfowl, and is home to more than 400 species of birds, fish and wildlife. It is bracing for the worst oil spill in America’s history.

NWF has a team on the ground in Venice, Louisiana, leading boat tours of the region and has served as a focal point for volunteer activism and media inquiries.

“This river of oil is still flowing out of the Gulf [and] these toxins will stay in the marsh mud for years,” said McDaniels, who briefed reporters on the spill. “We need your help to turn this around.”

Coastal Louisiana was already in trouble prior to the spill. Levees built for flood control have straight-jacketed the Mississippi River. Instead of spreading nutrient-rich sediment that builds and sustains the delta and surrounding wetlands, the sediment funnels into the Gulf of Mexico. Canals dredged for navigation and oil and gas extraction have carved up the once-vast coastal wetland system. The canals accelerate saltwater intrusion, destroying the protective cypress forests and replacing brackish and freshwater wetlands with degraded salt marshes. Coupled with sea-level rise caused by global warming, Louisiana is losing the equivalent of about two football fields of land every hour. Since the 1930s, more than 2,300 square miles of Louisiana’s vital marshlands have disappeared. McDaniels made clear that restoration of Coastal Louisiana would be a priority NWF would aggressively pursue.

For more information , visit www.vanishingparadise.org.

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Vanishing Paradise is a project by the National Wildlife Federation to restore Louisiana’s waterfowl habitat by reconnecting the Mississippi River with the wetlands.

Immediate Release: June 10, 2010

Contact:

Andy McDaniels, mcdanielsa@nwf.org.

Washington, DC (May 7, 2010) – A virtual town hall hosted by National Wildlife Federation tonight drew thousands of hunters and anglers concerned about the tremendous ecological and wildlife impacts of the BP oil spill along the Gulf Coast. The area is a draw for hunters and anglers nationwide and often called a “Sportsman’s Paradise.”

Louisiana’s coast sustains one of the world’s largest fisheries, produces the largest catch of redfish, hosts up to 20% of the nation’s wintering waterfowl, and is home to more than 400 species of birds, fish and wildlife. It is bracing for what could be the worst oil spill in America’s history.

NWF has a team on the ground in Venice, Louisiana, leading boat tours of the region and has served as a focal point for volunteer activism and media inquiries. Leading the team is NWF President and CEO Larry Schweiger who spoke about what he’s witnessed over the last several days.

“With a huge volume of oil flowing in the Gulf of Mexico unabated, we clearly have an epic catastrophe unfolding,” Schweiger said. “The greatest coastal wetland system in America is at the height of spring wildlife nesting season, including the Louisiana mottled duck, now faces what may be the largest oil spill in the nation’s history. It is hard to imagine a more dire situation.”

Bob Marshall, Times Picayune outdoor staff writer and conservation editor-at-large for Field and Stream spoke about his personal connection to the Gulf Coast and his alarm at what may be in store.

“This river of oil is still flowing out of the Gulf [and] these toxins will stay in the marsh mud for years,” said Marshall. “We need your help to turn this around.”

Coastal Louisiana was already in trouble prior to the spill. Levees built for flood control have straight-jacketed the Mississippi River. Instead of spreading nutrient-rich sediment that builds and sustains the delta and surrounding wetlands, the sediment funnels into the Gulf of Mexico. Canals dredged for navigation and oil and gas extraction have carved up the once-vast coastal wetland system. The canals accelerate saltwater intrusion, destroying the protective cypress forests and replacing brackish and freshwater wetlands with degraded salt marshes. Coupled with sea-level rise caused by global warming, Louisiana is losing the equivalent of about two football fields of land every hour. Since the 1930s, more than 2,300 square miles of Louisiana’s vital marshlands have disappeared. Schweiger made clear that restoration of Coastal Louisiana and a clean energy future would be priorities NWF would aggressively pursue.

For audio of the town hall, visit http://www.vanishingparadise.org/oilspill and interviews contact NWF.

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The National Wildlife Federation is America’s largest conservation organization inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.

Immediate Release: May 5, 2010

Contact:

Tony Iallonardo, senior communications manager, 202-797-6612, iallonardot@nwf.org

Please join Bob Marshall, outdoor staff writer for the New Orleans based Times Picayune and conservation editor-at-large for Field and Stream, and NWF’s President and CEO, Larry Schweiger on a free phone conservation about the fishing and hunting grounds at risk in Louisiana from the gulf oil spill.

Please call in tomorrow, May 5th, at 7pm Central Time

Bob and Larry will be calling in from ground zero in Louisiana, and will relay the most up-to-date impacts on the treasured fishing and hunting grounds in America’s Sportsman’s Paradise.

Stay tuned with information at www.vanishingparadise.org/oilspill

>>Live recording of tele townhall