[StBernard] Oyster Harvesters Mapping Beds and More

[Westley Annis]

Oyster Harvesters Mapping Beds and More 

December 1 , 2005

By: Steve Cannizaro


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

Oyster-harvesters are signing up for jobs mapping public oyster beds; new
emergency number of 271-0411 given for Fire Department; free notary services
offered

More than 100 oyster-harvesters have signed up this week to apply for jobs
mapping public oyster beds in St. Bernard Parish waters under a state
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries program funded federally.

The program will be used to determine the amount of silt covering oyster
beds but will also provide income for licensed oyster-harvesters, according
to St. Bernard Parish Council member Ricky Melerine, who represents the
eastern part of the parish.

"They have 275 grids to map'' and it will take 2-3 days for each grid,
Melerine said.

He said parish government is taking applications for the program until 4:30
p.m. this Friday, Dec. 2, and the mapping will start in mid-December. 
Applications are available at the Parish Information Center trailer office,
a gray building with a wooden deck, and is located behind the parish
government building at 8201 West Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette.

There are criteria for applicants and they must take a course scheduled for
next week that will explain what to do, he said.

Each applicant must have an oyster-harvester's license, be knowledgeable
about the use of a GPS system and must have a large boat capable of working
in rough waters in the Biloxi Bayou marsh and in Lake Borgne, Melerine said.

The areas to be mapped could be as much as four hours away by boat and would
probably require staying out on the water for several days at a time, he
said.

Applicants must also be residents of St. Bernard Parish, Melerine said.

###

St. Bernard Parish Fire Chief Thomas Stone has announced a new emergency
number to reach the Fire Department, 504-271-0411.

Anyone reporting a fire or medical emergency should se the new number, which
is effective immediately, Stone said.

###

Attorney James Murrell announced he is offering free notary work for parish 
residents.

He will be in Chalmette Dec. 5-8 at 2100 Pelitere St. and can be reached by 
cell phone at 318-278-9392 or 985-640-5552.