Natural Fisheries, Marsh Management, and Mariculture: Complexity and Conflict in Louisiana

Most of Louisiana's economically important saltwater fishes and crustaceans spawn in the Gulf of Mexico, but their young must use the vast coastal marsh as their nursery. Marsh management in Louisiana usually consists of emplacement of levees and water-control structures in the marsh. These structures significantly reduce fisheries production and offshore recruitment. In addition, in 1987 private entities were authorized to use 32,380 ha of the marsh for experimental mariculture, which (if successful) will likewise lead to greatly reduced natural fisheries production and offshore recruitment. Private interests also nearly succeeded in legalizing entrapment and eventual harvest of the wild fisheries from 100,000 ha, and 20,000 ha, of the marsh in 1991 and 1992, respectively. The effects of all these threats to natural fisheries production are further complicated by Louisiana's confused legal situation regarding coastal land ownership.