Building healthy ecosystems requires a healthy partnership ecosystem. The Eugene Island 74 artificial reef, installed roughly 40 miles offshore, south of New Iberia/Morgan City, is the second of five reefs made possible through Raising Cane's owner and founder Todd Graves' landmark $500,000 commitment to CCA Louisiana's R.E.E.F. Louisiana program.
Graves' partnership with CCA Louisiana began with the dedication of the Raising Cane's Hotel Sid reef in August 2024, which restored critical habitat at a site long favored by anglers after the decommissioning of the underlying oil and gas platform. At that dedication, Graves pledged an additional $400,000 to fund four more reefs across the state. Eugene Island 74 is the second fulfillment of that promise.
The reef is being installed by Danos and DEAN Construction under permits issued by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and it's built using our FishHouse ExoForms, nature-based habitat modules engineered to accelerate colonization by marine organisms and provide sustained habitat for speckled trout, redfish, and a diverse array of offshore species.
"As a native Louisianan who grew up fishing in waters across the state, the conservation and preservation of these waters is important to me and the entire fishing community," said Raising Cane's owner and founder Todd Graves. "Louisiana's coast is one of the most unique places in the country and the fact that these reefs will be around for generations helps ensure people can enjoy it with their families, kids and grandchildren for decades to come."
"Todd Graves and Raising Cane's aren't just investing in reefs — they're investing in the future of Louisiana's coastal ecosystem and the fishing communities that depend on it," said Rad Trascher, CEO of CCA Louisiana. "The Eugene Island 74 reef carries forward Todd's commitment to doing more for this state's waters, and we are honored to work with them on this initiative."
CCA Louisiana's R.E.E.F. Louisiana program addresses one of the Gulf Coast's most pressing conservation challenges: the loss of essential offshore habitat following the removal of oil and gas infrastructure. With more than 60 unique artificial reefs now installed across Louisiana's waters, the program continues to deliver real, measurable benefit for biodiversity, recreational fishing, and the long-term health of the state's coastal fisheries.
We're proud to be part of this growing series of reefs and grateful to work alongside partners who share a genuine commitment to Louisiana's coast. Three more to come.
