Saving Seafood

Fish kills following Hurricane Francine

September 19, 2024 — The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) requests the public’s help spotting fish kills that may occur throughout south-central and southeast Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine.

Through sampling and monitoring efforts, LDWF biologists have learned that restocking following storms is not usually necessary and will not speed up the recovery process unless there is a complete kill in a closed system. However, we need to know where fish kills occur and how extensive they are to monitor recovery and consider management tools going forward, including habitat restoration or stocking if needed. Please help us by reporting fish kills in your area.

Call 1-800-442-2511 or your local fisheries office to report a fish kill.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Offshore oil braces as Francine approaches Gulf Coast

September 11, 2024 — Roughly a quarter of the nation’s offshore oil production in the Gulf of Mexico is shut down Tuesday as Tropical Storm Francine approaches the Gulf Coast, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.

Francine, which is barreling northeast in the western Gulf of Mexico, is predicted to become a hurricane by landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday, with heavy rain and storm surges, according to NOAA. But the storm has already driven oil and gas workers out of its path, according to BSEE.

As of Tuesday, offshore oil and gas workers have been evacuated from 130 production platforms, or about 35 percent of the manned platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, where most U.S. offshore oil and gas is produced, according to BSEE.

Read the full article at E&E News

Fishing and oil industries pause due to Hurricane Francine

September 11, 2024 — According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Francine is expected to grow into a hurricane today, Tuesday, Sept. 10, and land as a hurricane on Wednesday over Louisiana, where Gov. Jeff Landry has declared a state of emergency. U.S. oil and gas companies have paused production due to the storm, and sources have released notices to remind fishermen and boaters alike to plan to protect their boats and other assets.

Francine began as a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico and strengthened further into a tropical storm on Monday. Forecasters expect the storm to move ashore as a possible Category 2 hurricane as it has been slightly gaining speed and shifting eastward, causing weather alerts as far as the Florida border. According to BBC, residents along the upper Texas and Louisiana coastlines are being warned of life-threatening storm surges and have been urged to complete hurricane preparations by Tuesday evening.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman