The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Artificial Reef Program is considering lifting an 8-year moratorium on Special Artificial Reef Sites (SARS). The program feels unique opportunities for creating reef sites outside of artificial reef planning areas still exist and should explore these potential opportunities and improve guidelines for SARS development.

In the 1990s, the Louisiana Artificial Reef Program amended the Louisiana Artificial Reef Plan to allow the program to take advantage of unusual opportunities to create reef sites outside of the program’s existing planning areas, referred to as SARS.  Twenty-two SARS were established or permitted, but a moratorium was established on news SARS in 2008.

The program is seeking both questions and comment on this proposal for 30 days.  For more information or to submit a comment, contact Mike McDonough at (225) 765-5418 or [email protected].