PRESS RELEASE

State Fisheries Report Provides Early Look At Hurricane Gustav Impacts
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries News Update
BATON ROUGE, La. (September 9, 2008) - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) biologists are reporting varying degrees of damage to the state's fisheries resources in the wake of Hurricane Gustav's Sept. 1 landfall.

Preliminary air and ground surveys by LDWF's Inland and Marine Fisheries Division biologists were conducted between Sept. 4 and Sept. 8. Findings were compiled in a report detailing, by region, the damage in southeast coastal parishes hit by high winds and storm surge; and to the northern freshwater waterways affected mainly by heavy rains.

The report is an early look at infrastructure and biological resource impacts that will affect commercial and recreational fishing resources for months and years to come.

Southeast and south central coastal Louisiana appear to have been the most heavily affected regions, with the loss of ice making capacity a prime concern for commercial fishermen. In addition, fish kills are affecting both recreational and commercial fishing interests. The Atchafalaya Basin is showing early signs of mass fish mortalities not seen since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

The complete report is available at www.wlf.louisiana.gov and can be accessed via the Hurricane Preparation and Response banner under the link titled "The Impact of Hurricane Gustav on the Fisheries Resources of Louisiana."

###