The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is releasing a Request for Industry Input and Quotes from qualified non-profit organizations per La R.S. 56:639.8 for the purpose of creating a cooperative endeavor agreement for the design and placement of an artificial reef system in inshore coastal Louisiana waters. This project will be funded by the Louisiana Artificial Reef Fund.

The Artificial Reef Program (Program) is responsible for the planning, siting, material selection, permitting, and monitoring oversight of inshore artificial reef development. Inshore reefs are those artificial reefs developed solely in Louisiana state waters between the Louisiana Intracoastal Waterway and the Louisiana coastline and within Lake Pontchartrain. These reefs can be utilized by a great number of Louisiana’s fishermen due to short travel distances and provide options to stay closer to shore or inshore during inclement weather conditions. The overall mission of the Program is to enhance fishing opportunities, reduce or eliminate conflict between user groups, and construct new reefs based on: siting criteria; input expressed by advisory organizations; the fishing public and other constituents; increase accessibility to fishing sites; have a net positive impact to fisheries; and increase fishing opportunities while keeping a management focus.

The deadline to submit responses is May 25, 2018, by 2:00 PM. A link to the complete RFIQ can be found at here.

For more information, please contact Ashley Ferguson at 225-761-2395 or via e-mail at[email protected].

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us atwww.wlf.la.gov. To receive email alerts, signup at http://www.wlf.la.gov/signup.