Louisiana DWF Encourages Local Anglers to Fight Back Against Invasives

Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries 09.17.12

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will host an invasive species awareness event on Saturday, September 29, including a free fishing rodeo to help reduce the Rio Grande cichlid population in the Greater New Orleans area.

Local anglers are encouraged to fight back against this invasive species, which is known to outcompete native sportfish for habitat and bedding areas.

Native to northeast Mexico and southern Texas, cichlids were first reported in Louisiana in June 1996 in Lake Pontchartrain. During the last few years, they have quickly spread throughout the Greater New Orleans area and are now one of the most common fish found in urban canals.

This free fishing rodeo, open to youth and adults, was developed to encourage local residents to help reduce cichlid numbers. Competition categories include adult, team (up to 10 participants), and youth (12 & under) divisions. In addition to the fishing competition, there will be plenty of other activities including Louisiana fish and invasive species education, casting lessons, fly fishing demonstrations, free giveaways and much more.

Anglers interested in participating in the fishing rodeo can register in advance online at www.wlf.la.gov/rio-registration or onsite beginning at 5:30 a.m. at the Old Casino Building and Popp Bandstand in New Orleans City Park and can begin casting their line immediately after. The first 100 registrants will receive a free “Rigged and Ready” rod and reel courtesy of CCA Louisiana. Fish weigh-in will close at 11 a.m.

Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries – Enforcement Division(LDWF) is the fish & game regulatory agency of Louisiana. It has jurisdictionanywhere in the state, and in state territorial waters. The agency enforces both state and federal laws dealing with hunting, fishing, and boating safety. The agency also enforces criminal laws in rural areas including DWI enforcement both on highways and waterways. Most of the Department’s Wildlife Agents also carry Federal law enforcement commissions issued from the United States Department of the Interior - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and United States Department of Commerce - U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). These federal commissions allow these state officers to enforce federal migratory waterfowl laws and federal marine fisheries laws in state and federal waters off the coast of Louisiana. Besides their traditional role as a “game warden”, Louisiana Wildlife Enforcement Agents also have a number of other responsibilities, including conducting board of health inspections on some portions of the state’s commercial fishing industry. Agents are trained in and conduct numerous search and rescue operations, both in remote land areas and on the state’s waterways. Agents ensure that hunters, anglers, boaters, dealers, breeders, farmers, and transporters are in compliance with regulations governing equipment, quotas, licenses, and registrations. Agents also assist other State departments and law enforcement agencies in the coordination of educational and professional endeavors, as well as national and state emergency alerts by the Federal Office of Emergency Preparedness. In addition, agents perform search and rescue missions alone or in conjunction with other local, state, and federal agencies.