The Louisiana Artificial Reef Council has approved for further consideration the establishment of seven special artificial reef sites (SARS) offshore. The action was taken during the Council’s June 19, 2006 meeting at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in Baton Rouge.
A public hearing to discuss the proposals further and gain public input will be held at the Larose Civic Center on September 5th from 6-9 pm.
A total of 25 proposals were received and evaluated by the Council as potential Special Artificial Reef Sites. All these sites contained platforms that were either destroyed or damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The seven proposals were approved for further consideration by the Council are one by Anglo Swiss in the West Delta 117 block, one by Maritech in Ship Shoal block 269, one by Apache in the West Delta 103/104 blocks, one by ERT in the East Cameron 222 block, one by Stone Energy in the Vermilion 255 block, and two by Chevron, one each in the Eugene Island 276 blocks and the Vermilion 245 block. The sites approved by the Council contained multiple platforms, to minimize the number of SARS sites while taking advantage of the greatest number of platforms.
Special reefs sites are those created to take advantage of material available for construction outside the nine planning regions designated by the Louisiana Artificial Reef Program. The council provides direction for the program, established by the Louisiana Fishing Enhancement Act in 1986 to enhance and maintain fish habitat in the state’s offshore waters by utilizing oil and gas platforms that are no longer used.