Oysters and the Oyster Industry: Enhancing the Resource,

Raising the Lease Moratorium, And Resolving Coastal User Conflicts

Louisiana Oil and Gas Association CLESeptember 16, 2014

Panel Members

• Jim Devitt, – Deputy General Counsel, La. Department of

Natural Resources• Larry Marino

– Partner, Oats and Marino• Randy Pausina

– Assistant Secretary, La. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Introduction

• Comparative timeline of the oyster and oil and gas industries

The Avenal Decision

• Avenal v. State, 886 So.2d 1085 (La. 2004)

Oyster Lease Moratorium

• History• Why is the moratorium still in place?• Pros and Cons of Lifting the Moratorium• Implementation

State Oyster Initiatives

• Oyster Landings• Public seed ground stock assessment• Cultch Plants• Hatchery Raised Larvae• Remote Setting• Alternative Oyster Culture

OYSTER RESTORATIONRandy Pausina | Louisiana Oil & Gas Association CLE | September 16, 2014

PRELIMINARY DATA - SUBJECT TO CHANGE

8

Historical Louisiana Oyster Landings

1961

1963

1965

1967

1969

1971

1973

1975

1977

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

2011

2013*

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

Public Private

Year

Poun

ds o

f Mea

t (m

illio

ns)

LTA = 11.05 million lbs.

*Preliminary LDWF data

PRELIMINARY DATA - SUBJECT TO CHANGE

9

Historical Louisiana Seed and Sack Oyster Stocks

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

*

2011

*

2012

*

2013

*

2014

*

0

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

6,000,000Seed Oysters Sack Oysters

Year

Ba

rre

ls (

mil

lio

ns

)

NOTE:1994-2004 includes CSA I data revision* 2010 to present data includes Sabine Lake data.

Seed LTA

Sack LTA

2014↑ 4.6% seed

↑ 16.8% sack↑ 9.8% total

Cultch Plants

Cultch Plants

Hatchery Raised Oyster Larvae

Remote Setting

Remote Setting

Remote Setting

Remote Setting

Alternative Oyster Culture

Alternative Oyster Culture

• La. R.S. 56:431.2 et seq.

Resolution of User Conflicts

• Oyster Lease Damage Evaluation Board (OLDEB)

• Damage to State Seed Grounds• Damage from Integrated Coastal Protection