Restoring Marine Life Habitats in Louisiana

REEF Louisiana is an initiative of the Coastal Conservation Association started in 2019, to replace vital fisheries habitat across the coast of Sportsman’s Paradise.

The idea came from local anglers, political leaders, biologists, and CCA members from around the state. The concept is to pre-approve numerous nearshore reef sites across the coast ranging from 10 feet to 150 feet in depth. The reefs will be built centered on the old footprint of decommissioned platforms that have been identified by anglers as former fishing hotspots for species like speckled trout, red snapper and
other favorites.

The sites we’ve identified include angler favorites in the Ship Shoal, Eugene Island, South Marsh Island, Vermilion, East Cameron, West Cameron and Sabine Pass blocks. All are proven to hold fish and be accessible to fisherman.

The exciting part of these sites is that we will use repurposed “materials of opportunity,” depending on the water depths and other conditions. In shallower waters, we will use recycled highway barriers, culverts, roadway material and the like. In deeper waters, we will deploy pieces of old oil and gas platforms, retired marine vessels, and other available materials in addition to recycled concrete. The deeper the water, the further off the sea floor we can build.