Mitigating Impacts of Natural Hazards on Fishery Ecosystems

Fishery Sector Recovery: Policy Lessons from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Albert “Rusty” Gaudé, Wayne Weikel, and Nancy Weikel

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781934874011.ch6

Abstract.—During recovery efforts from the destructive forces of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the coastal fishery sector, spanning 200 mi of Gulf of Mexico shoreline, was subject to challenges never witnessed in modern times. Not only was up to 85% of the fishing fleet disabled, nearly the entire infrastructure of the support system—supply, purchase, and processing—collapsed. On top of this physical damage, fishery families had the emotional burden of losing their homes, possessions, and, in some cases, family members. The obvious burdens of the weather events were then compounded by the labyrinth of pathways leading to federal and state assistance programs that sought, at least in spirit, to help the fishery industry recover. The lifestyle and financial nature of many family fishing operations often failed to meet the guidelines and approval criterion of these recovery agencies. Over 2 years into the rebuilding process, many of the individuals, and their families, have given up hope of ever returning to a way of fishery life that some had followed for three or four generations.

Several weeks after the hurricanes, the Louisiana Sea Grant Program and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) joined forces through the regional Sea Grant fishery agent and two FEMA fishery liaisons to address fishery recovery issues in Plaquemines Parish (southeast Louisiana). Though never utilized before in FEMA history, this alliance of industry-specific federal liaisons with local, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-sponsored fishery agents would prove to be a valuable asset to the fishery sector in the recovery process. During the following 199 d, the alliance of these two elements enhanced the cooperation of local governments, military, citizens, and charitable organizations. Their efforts were brought to bear on the enormous tasks of quickly restarting the time-sensitive fishery industry. This action template consisted of initially designating two FEMA fishery liaisons who later formed an informal alliance with the local Sea Grant fishery agent. Supported by endorsements from local communities, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Senate, this template for cooperation and synergy in fishery recovery has been referred to the national administrative levels of FEMA and the National Sea Grant Program (NSGP). Pending approval by both FEMA and NSGP, such alliances could be institutionalized to become one of the principles of initial recovery efforts for any catastrophic event that impacts the coastal fisheries of the United States. Valuable lessons were learned during the recovery process that will prove useful in the event of future hazards. It became evident that the timing of certain recovery processes is as critical as the action itself. Likewise, participants in family fishing operations affected by these hurricanes have come to realize that there are personal business and record-keeping strategies that assist in qualifying for the recovery programs that they deserve as components of the small business community. The fishing sector is poorly understood outside of its own people. This is especially true in horrific personal tragedies that bring in outside assistants who have little knowledge of the local conditions and personal players. This alliance of local experience and federal procedural counselors has created an example that could be replicated across all coastal fisheries should the need arise.