The habitat changes that would result from land loss would mean that Louisiana's 

 position as the Nation's number one "seafood factory" would vanish. In addition, the jobs 

 directly and indirectly associated with these renewable resources would also disappear. 



Recreation; The Favorite Pastime of Coastal Sportsmen . 



With one out of every two Americans involved in outdoor recreation, and with 

 water serving as the largest single attraction, the water bodies and biologic resources of 

 coastal Louisiana attract both resident recreationalists and out-of-state tourists in 

 rapidly increasing numbers. The income generated by the recreation/tourist trade plays 

 an important role in the region's economic structure. 



Grimes and Pinhey (1976) noted that by the year 2000, Louisiana wetlands will be 

 needed to meet the recreational demand of the State's expanding population. With two- 

 thirds of Louisiana's inhabitants located within 2 hours driving time of the marshlands, 

 the coastal zone and associated offshore waters are already available to a large 

 population for day or overnight use. 



In 1970, Louisiana's deltaic wetlands supported an estimated 10 million man-days of 

 recreational activity annually (Martin 1972). If this figure increases to 25 million user 

 days by 1985, as expected, Louisiana's deltaic wetlands will be worth in excess of $55 

 million/acre/yr (assuming a user-day value of $l5/day). The onshore and offshore 

 recreational areas are utilized at a relatively intense rate due to their accessibility and 

 because they are free of high user fees and other use-inhibiting factors. With 90% of the 

 land lost in freshwater marshes, however, the preferred winter habitat of puddle ducks is 

 being reduced. By the year 2000, the "recreational ledger" will show a deficit of more 

 than 360,000 user-days. There will not be enough marsh to meet the hunter demand 

 (Fruge 1981). 



Nevertheless, the coastal marshes provide outdoor enthusiasts with year-round 

 recreational opportunities. In fall and winter, hunters, trappers, and fishermen harvest 

 ducks, muskrat, nutria, alligator, and numerous fresh- and saltwater fish. In contrast, 

 spring is the season to shrimp, crab, crawfish and fish for spotted seatrout (Cynoscion 

 nebulosus ), largemouth boss (Micropterus salmoides) , and red snapper (Lutianus 

 campechanus ). From the beginning of spring until the first cold front moves througn the 

 area, fishing and boating are the principal elements in the use-cycle. By late September, 

 the gallinule (Gallinula choropus ) season is open, followed by quail, dove, rail, snipe, 

 duck, and geese (Chabreck and Joanen 1966). 



Hunting and fishing; the principal recreational activities . Louisiana is a wintering 

 area for between 6 million to o million waterfowl per year; approximately 75% to 80% 

 concentrate in the coastal marsh (Burts and Carpenter 1975). The 36 waterfowl species 

 that winter in Louisiana make hunting an extremely important and popular recreational 

 activity (St. Amant 1959). 



Sportsmen take advantage of the birds migratory cycle and have utilized the 

 chenier and deltaic plains as a major waterfowl hunting locale, bagging 2.8 million water 

 fowl in the 1977-78 season. In that same season, the coastal parishes contributed 63% of 

 the total State waterfowl harvest (Gauthier 1978). 



Wetland hunting is a traditional winter sport activity. As a renewable resource, the 

 migratory populations are maintained by properly managing the wetlands. This is 



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