Gerald Anthony Guidry
July 28, 2009
Florett "Flo" Johnson
July 30, 2009The deadline to send in forms for the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries survey on damage to coastal Louisiana’s fisheries industry from hurricanes Katrina and Rita has been extended to Saturday, Aug. 15, said Tanya Etier, grant coordinator with South Central Planning and Development Commission, which is administering the program locally.
The previous deadline had been June 30.
South Central Planning will also hold informational meetings on the survey program today and on three other dates in the next two months.
Wildlife and Fisheries received a $15 million federal grant to conduct the study, which covers Sept. 1, 2005, to Aug. 31, 2008.
Fishermen and seafood dealers will be paid on a sliding scale for filling out the survey.
As examples, fishermen who had minimum sales of $5,948 during the three-year period will be paid $209. Seafood dealers who had minimum purchases of $20,756 during the period will be paid $1,438 to participate.
Depending on the amount of income, fishermen and dealers will be asked about their work vessels, number of miles traveled on the job and types of seafood sold and bought.
All participants must supply information about damage sustained from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Etier said the deadline has been extended only for the forms that need to be submitted to receive the surveys.
The deadline to turn in the completed surveys in the self-addressed business reply envelope to South Central Planning is Sept. 30.
The informational meetings will be held today at the South Central Planning office in Gray and on Aug. 26, Sept. 2, and Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wildlife and Fisheries representatives will be on hand to answer questions about filling out the survey.
Respondents should make an appointment with a representative by calling (800) 630-3791 or (985) 655-1051.
Walk-ins could have a wait time.
