Mississippi Gulf Fishing Banks, Inc.

Activity Report for the period

September 11 - November 12, 1998

Summary of Trips

During this period, one dive trip was made on October 15, 1998 to the Ladnier Barge and another trip was made on October 30 to the Jackson County Barge but this latter effort was abandoned due to extremely poor bottom visibility. Pre-Storm/Post Storm observation comparisons were made of the 970623 Ladnier Barge (ID=205F13). The pre-storm dive trip was made on July 25, 1998. Hurricane Georges slowly dragged thru the area on September 27/28, 1998 with winds of 110 mph and 40 foot seas. The barge lies in 71 feet of water.

970623 Ladnier Barge (ID=205F13)

Lat 30°02.690' LORAN 12454.4

Long 88°31.865' 47033.8

Physical changes

There is evidence of considerable storm damage. Pre-Storm/Post Storm barge height measurements starting at the southeast corner and moving counterclockwise were recorded as 5'6", 5'8", 4'0", 4'4" (Pre-Storm) and 2'-3", 1'-8", 2'-8", 3'-1" (Post-Storm). It is important to note that the northeast corner is actually level with the surrounding bottom, but there is a one foot wide trench separating the corner from the surrounding bottom and thus accounting for the foot and a half height measurement. There is a similar but wider trench on the west and north side of the barge. It is speculated that the barge experienced severe "rocking" thereby "wallowing" it into the bottom. A very important note - the global position of the barge has not changed.

Additional over sedimentation was evident as well. There is a 3 foot square opening with a stairwell leading to the interior of the barge. The interior of the barge had virtually no sediment before the storm, but after the storm there was as much as 3 feet of sediment from this opening. A 5 gallon bucket that was empty before the storm now lacked only inches from being full of sand (See Figure Two). There was no observation of sand accumulating on top of the barge, but the barge appeared "polished" compared to pre-storm observations (See Figure One). There is also a split in the seam down the north edge of the barge that did not exist in the pre-storm observations (See Figure Three).

Biological changes

Much of the coral and plant growth observed pre-storm are now absent, but some finger corals and barnacles still exist on top of the barge. Comparative photos of the cutwater under the west side of the barge show an extreme difference in the biological life that was present there (See Figure Two). On top of the barge, a comparison at the stairwell entrance is not as drastic but shows the disappearance of finger coral and other life entities such as urchins, hermit crabs, and algae (See Figure One).

A most interesting observation, which most fishermen are already aware, is the increase in game fish populations. Particularly, the red snapper and gag grouper population showed an increase of at least 100% and the average size of the fish also increased several inches. Hook and line captures before the storm yielded 12"-15" fish on average, whereas post storm fish sizes were on the order of 18"-22". Several Warsaw grouper and a snowy grouper were sited on this structure before the storm, but no observations of these species were evident after the storm. It is speculated that the storm may move the reef fish off structures and they re-find homes after the storm passes. Some pre-storm fish tagging would have been beneficial to help answer this question.

Ladnier Barge damage from hurricane Georges (1998)

Figure One. The stairwell locking clasp above identifies the same object in both pictures (Pre-Storm on left, Post-Storm on right). Even though the view is from different angles, the storm damage is obvious.

FIGURE Two.

Figure Three.

The shrimp door (above left) was lying on the bottom before the storm. After the storm it is now on top of the barge and only its frame remains (above lower left). The growth of soft corals and plants which were quite evident before the storm (above right) are now gone. The north edge of the barge has a busted seam now (lower right).

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