As CCA’s REEF Louisiana program was hosting the press conference for the dedication of the Raising Cane’s Hotel Sid reef, Todd Graves surprised them with an additional donation to fund four more reefs.
Graves, owner and founder of Raising Cane’s, originally donated $100,000 to build a reef at the Hotel Sid site. Hotel Sid, once an oil and gas platform favored by fishermen for its abundance of speckled trout, was decommissioned in 2023 due to low production.
Graves’ love for his home state spawned the promise of additional funding and encouraged other businesses to get involved.
“We are the Sportsman’s Paradise. Not only do people throughout our state but also from around the country and even around the world, come here to fish these incredible waters,” Graves said. “Working with CCA has been a fantastic process and I thought why just do one, let’s go ahead and do five. I’m excited to support CCA in building this reef and am going to do four more across the state to help create this great ecosystem. I encourage other corporations in Louisiana to support CCA and sponsor a reef.”
David Cresson, Executive Director of CCA Louisiana, and Rad Trascher, Executive Vice President of CCA Louisiana, were on site for the dedication from Graves and spoke to the importance and gratitude they had for Raising Cane’s and Graves’ partnership.
“Restoring Hotel Sid was made possible by Todd and Raising Cane’s,” said Cresson. “Todd is a great friend and incredible conservationist and outdoorsman and having him here with us today is an honor. I have no words to describe how thankful we are, not only for Raising Cane’s Hotel Sid, but for Todd’s commitment to sponsoring four additional reefs. That’s incredible!”
With Graves commitment for another $400,000 to REEF Louisiana, Trascher commented on what it means for the program.
“We are grateful for our newfound partnership with Raising Cane’s,” said Trascher. “Through great partnerships like this one with Todd, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and others, ensure that CCA can continue rebuilding habitat in the future.”
The Raising Cane’s Hotel Sid project was built with over 500 Cajun Coral modules, a nature-based product fabricated using highly specialized 3D printing technology, by Danos. Cajun Coral is produced by Danos in partnership with Natrx, Inc. These different materials are expected to encourage biodiversity and restore essential habitat for trout, redfish, and a variety of other fish species. The reef consists of four areas with roughly 125 modules per area. These modules weigh over 400lbs a piece and will create more than 10,000 square feet of living reef.
“Being from Louisiana, being a fisherman and a conservationist, it’s a really exciting day for me and I’m proud to support CCA in building this reef,” Graves said. “It’s restoring a whole ecosystem. Countless species will live because of this reef.”
This project would not be possible without the commitment of other conservation partners, Danos, LDWF, CCA’s Building Conservation Trust and Shell. LDWF has renewed its partnership with CCA’s REEF Louisiana program to further artificial reef installations. Representatives were on hand to take part in the dedication as well as see the installation.
“Louisiana is a sportsman’s paradise and this is another great opportunity to get anglers out here and enable kids, grandkids, and generations to come to continue enjoying our waters,” said the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Madison Sheahan. “It’s an honor to be here today as we help Louisiana’s conservation efforts, and we wouldn’t have this opportunity without the help of Todd and Raising Cane’s.”
For Graves’ generous donation announcement and his dedication to conservation, he was awarded the Grand Isle Medal of Honor from Mayor David Camardelle.
“I was born and raised here and come from a fishing family,” said Grand Isle Mayor Camardelle. “I remember going fishing with my dad and this gift from Todd will enable future generations to do the same. I’m proud to award him Grand Isle’s Medal of Honor for his avid conservationism and dedication to restoring our waters and reefs.”
The Raising Cane’s Hotel Sid is the 52nd unique artificial reef CCA Louisiana has built, and the 3rd artificial reef built this summer with many more coming this year. Once installation and survey are complete, GPS coordinates will be published on their website.
CCA’s REEF Louisiana Program is an initiative aimed at replacing lost fisheries habitat, including where oil and gas platforms have been removed. In addition to products like Cajun Coral, the program uses repurposed “materials of opportunity” to construct artificial reefs, including items such as pieces of decommissioned oil and gas platforms, retired marine vessels, highway barriers, culverts, and recycled concrete.
For more information about this reef or CCA Louisiana’s REEF Louisiana Program, contact Rad Trascher at (225) 952-9200.