Office of Conservation

Oyster Leases in Barataria Renewed

Secretary Jack Caldwell of the Department of Natural Resources requested today that his counterpart at the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, James "Jimmy" Jenkins, Jr., reinstate the oyster leases located within the Davis Pond Cumulative Impact Area due to the overwhelming success of the Davis Pond relocation program. As of the deadline on Thursday, 60 of 64 oyster lessees had been heard from, either by phone or in writing, who had agreed to participate in the program. The vast majority of these were opting for the purchase option, while a much smaller group were planning to select the relocation option.

The Davis Pond Cumulative Impact Area is the area south of the Davis Pond influence area which may be affected by the cumulative influence of other diversions in the area at Myrtle Grove and LaReussite. However, Secretary Caldwell said, "Given the positive response of those lessees in the immediate project area, a lesser degree of precaution is appropriate. We feel that the one-year bob-tailed leases are a better way to go at this point. The state’s interests are sufficiently covered and the lessees in cumulative area can continue to operate. This is a win-win situation."

Secretary Jenkins concurred, "The bob-tailed lease option will allow these leases to continue to operate, and keep as much area in production as possible. These bob-tailed leases can be renewed as long as the area is productive and in the interests of the state and the oystermen in the area to do so.

The Davis Pond relocation program was authorized by Congress as a means of allowing the state to use the cost of moving the affected oyster leases from the immediate project influence area as part of a twenty-five percent cost-sharing obligation. The project influence area did not include the added effects of the other diversions in area at LaReussite and West Pointe-a-la Hache, which were constructed after Davis Pond was authorized. Thus a concern about the combined or cumulative effects of all these diversion projects resulted in an intermediate zone known as the "Davis Pond Cumulative Impact Area." In a precautionary move, the state had previously issued letters stating that expiring leases would not be renewed. Today’s decision to renew the leases due to the success of the relocation program should be welcomed by the oyster growers in the area.

Editors: For information on this topic, please contact DNR’s Coastal Restoration Division Administrator Dr. Bill Good at (504) 342-7308 or the Public Information Office at (504) 342-8955.