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CCA announces reef restoration project in Vermilion Bay E-mail
Officers of the Vermilion Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana today announced a $250,000, privately funded project to restore an oyster reef near Redfish Point in Vermilion Bay.

Vermilion CCA Reef Coordinator Paul Bourgeois, Jr. of Abbeville said the Redfish Point Reef Project will restore the oyster reef, which is located in an area long known for excellent fishing by both commercial and recreational fishermen. The area, known to many as Cochion Shell Banks, has been popular because of its abundance of trout, redfish, drum, flounder, shrimp and crab. Over the years, hurricanes, subsidence and other conditions have deteriorated the natural reef, located one mile east of Redfish Point in eastern Vermilion Parish. (The center of the reef is located at Latitude 29.40.37 and Longitude 92.07.05.) Deterioration of the reef and other changes have resulted in a decline of the fisheries.

“Restoration of the reef will help with our coastal erosion problem and should help to bring back the abundant fisheries that existed in that part of Vermilion Bay for many years,” Bourgeois said. “While the state and the feds are our partners in this project, restoration of the reef will be completed with private funds donated specifically for this cause.”

The Shell Oil Company has pledged $100,000 to the project, and CCA is raising money to pay for the remaining $150,000 the project is expected to cost.

“Shell has come through as they did for CCA’s Bird Island Reef in Lake Pelto several years ago,” Bourgeois said. “We are grateful to Shell, and we thank them for their interest in conservation and coastal erosion. Restoration of the reef has become even more critical after damages caused by Hurricane Rita's storm surge and wave action.”

Restoring the low-profile submerged reef will involve placing about 5,000 tons of limestone in an area measuring about one acre along the existing reef. The limestone will increase the height of the reef by about two feet. Organizers hope to complete the project in July. Upon completion, the restored reef will be accessible to the public from a number of launches from Intracoastal City to Cypremort Point.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, a partner in the project, has obtained necessary permits and is providing technical expertise for construction of the reef. Upon completion, Vermilion CCA’s Redfish Point Reef will be managed by LDWF as part of its artificial reef program. The Lafayette office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is also a major partner in the project.

“While Shell’s $100,000 donation gets us off to a good start, we will need additional donations and in-kind services to make this reef restoration project a reality for Vermilion Parish,” Bourgeois said. “We are conducting active fundraising, and we will greatly appreciate all donations from individuals and companies.”

Donations to the project are tax deductible. Persons or companies wishing to donate to the reef restoration project can contact Paul Bourgeois Jr. at (337) 893-6116 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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