33 



by the authority's actions. The functions of such panels will be advisory 

 o]ily. However, the panel or any of its members should be empowered 

 to refer any matter to the next higher echelon should he or the panel 

 feel that the best interests of the area are not being served by a particu- 

 lar decision or action. 



Let me give you one example of how industry and government have 

 worked together during an earlier period of emerging technology 

 relating to use of the coastal zone. 



I refer to offshore production of oil, gas, and sulphur in the Gulf 

 Coast area of Louisiana and Texas. Intensive development of these 

 industries was accomplished during the past 20-25 years, without 

 interference with shipping, shrimping, fishing, or other more tra- 

 ditional marine industries. 



As a matter of fact, the growth of the sport fishing industry off 

 the coast of Louisiana coincides with and was derived largely from 

 the growth of the offshore mineral industry. A good account of this 

 growth is continued in an article in the Conservationist, tlie official 

 publication of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, 

 the September-October issue of 1968, which is entitled "Twenty Years 

 of Sport Fishing Along the Gulf Coast," written by Mr. McFadden 

 Duffy. 



[From the Louisiana Conservationist, Louisiana Wild Life and Fislieries Commission, 

 September-October 1968], 



Twenty Tears of Spoetfishing Along the Gulf Coast 

 (By McFadden Duffy) 



Twenty years ago, sportfishing along the coast of Louisiana as we know it 

 today simply did not exist. True, there was plenty of fishing and many fishermen ; 

 but not anything like it is today. 



Gulf fishing was limited to private yachts, fishing boats that could be hired 

 when they were not engaged in shrimping activties, boat and bait livery camps 

 where skiffs could be rented, and private boats that were kept near favorite 

 fishing spots along the coast. 



Fishing in the inland coastal bays, lakes, bayous and passes has not changed 

 a great deal during the years ; although the overall pattern of fishing along 

 the gulf coast has changed greatly during the past two decades. About a dozen 

 species of fish which were only read about in sporting magazines 20 years ago by 

 Louisiana fishermen are commonplace at the docks and marinas all along our 

 coastline from the Texas state line to the Mississippi state line. 



Twenty years ago, no one dreamed that there would be three big game fishing 

 clubs in the state and that anglers would be catching blue marlin, white marlin, 

 sailfish, bull dolphin, hefty tuna and speedy wahoo with more than consistent 

 regularity. 



Bay fishing consists mostly of speckled ti'out, redfish, white trout, croakers, 

 flounders, jackfish, drum, sheepshead and tarpon during certain months of the 

 year. 



Offshore anglers take amberjack, barracuda, bonito, cobia, dolphin, jackfish, 

 jewfish, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, red snapper, sailfish, wahoo. tuna, 

 tripletail, spadefish, speckled trout, sheepshead, blue marlin, white marlin, bull 

 redfish and pompano in season. 



It was just about twenty years ago that a major oil company erected a test 

 platform near the present sulphur mine seven miles south of Grand Isle. It was 

 dubbed the "umbrella" because it was a small square platform on a single piling. 



Fish began to congregate around the structure, and it soon became a favorite 

 fishing spot with gulf anglers because it was only seven miles from shore and the 

 island was visible. 



This marked the start of a twenty-year period of transition that enhanced 

 Louisiana's appeal to fishermen-tourists, and greatly broadened the scope of salt 

 water fishing for Louisianians. One after another oil drilling platforms sprung 

 up. Like an army of towering steel spiders, they spread down the Louisiana coast 



