News Release

LDWF, LWFF and DNR Sign
Atchafalaya Basin Enhancement Agreement

For Release
June 26, 2002

This is a joint news release prepared by LDWF and DNR.

Two state agencies joined a non-profit organization on June 26 in an agreement to enhance fisheries in the Atchafalaya Basin. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary James H. Jenkins Jr., Secretary Jack C. Caldwell of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation Director John S. Campbell took part in the document signing at LDWF headquarters in Baton Rouge. The reason for the cooperative endeavor, according to the document, is "to release as many healthy [bass] fingerlings as reasonably possible into the Atchafalaya Basin."

As the result of a previous joint effort with the Red River Waterway Commission, the foundation and LDWF released about 419,000 bass fingerlings into the Red River. The success of the Red River project led the Living Resources Committee of the Atchafalaya Basin Program, DNR, and the Louisiana BASS Federation to seek a similar partnership with LDWF for enhancing the basin.

Under the new agreement, DNR will provide $50,000 for stocking the Atchafalaya Basin with Florida largemouth bass fingerlings. The money will be used solely for the purchase of phase II (four-inch fish or greater) Florida bass fingerlings. Disbursed over three years, the money will be used to purchase an estimated 18,000 fish. The foundation will coordinate and LDWF, at an estimated labor cost of $25,000, will oversee the release of fish into the basin by members of the Louisiana BASS Federation.

LDWF has released approximately 975,000 phase I (one to two-inch fish) fingerlings and over 295,000 fry (newly hatched fish) into the basin this year, but the fish purchased under the new agreement are a welcome addition. The survivability for phase II fish is greater than phase I fish, so a higher percentage of the larger, phase II fish are expected to produce spawn.

Releasing Florida bass into Louisiana waterways is not a method of supplementing indigenous populations. The intent is to incorporate Florida bass genes into native fish in order to produce more trophy-size bass for Louisiana anglers. With stocking set to begin in October, the fish are expected to begin spawning during the next two spawning seasons.

Editors: For more information, call Tim Morrison at 225-765-2333 (morrison_tp@wlf.state.la.us).