By Rita Shirley LeBleu

There’s something growing in Cameron Parish waters. More than 50,000 hatchery-raised red drum were released into Calcasieu Lake Friday, Sept. 11, at the West Cove Boat Ramp on Sabine National Wildlife Refuge.

A news release from Coastal Conservation Association Louisiana described it as “a flagship release of Louisiana’s first redfish restocking program.”

Volunteers, partners and elected officials transferred the fish by bucket from the hatchery transport trailer.

Cameron Parish Police Jury President Michael Fewell and family were among volunteers. Fewell’s daughter, 14, didn’t know what to expect.

“It was interesting to see how small the fish were and learn about the whole process,” she said. “They take the parent fish and breed them, and then once they reproduce, they watch the babies, and take care of them until they are old enough to be tagged and released. There were so many fish squeezed into such a small place. It was cool knowing they were finally being released.”
Brood stock came from the Grand Isle Ride the Bull Fishing Tournament held last month, according to Rad Trascher, CCA Louisiana executive director/CEO.

“Red drum from each region of the company exhibit a slight genetic variation, and we were careful to have only Louisiana fish,” said Trascher.

From Grand Isle, the brood fish went to the University of Southern Mississippi’s Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center to do their thing. All will be genetically marked. When Wildlife and Fisheries does a stock assessment in future years, they will have that information, Trascher said.

“This release shows how research, innovation and strong partnerships can protect our waterways and replenish fish populations for generations,” said Michael Fewell, who thanked Cameron LNG, Sempra Infrastructure, CCA and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for investing in Cameron Parish’s wildlife, coastal culture and future.”

Trascher pointed out that it is the Louisiana anglers that benefit.

It takes one or two years for a redfish fingerling to grow into a size that’s big enough to keep or eat.