Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program director to retire Friday

Kerry St. Pé, Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program director, retires Friday after a 43-year career as a biologist in Louisiana.
St. Pé, 64, was named director of Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary in 1997 after chairing its scientific-technical committee during the formative years from 1991-1996. Prior to becoming director, he was a field-biologist and regional coordinator for Water Pollution Control Division of the state departments of Wildlife and Fisheries and Environmental Quality.
He does this work, he said, because of the impact he can make.
“It’s not for the money … It’s a sacrifice, I guess. You have to do it because you love it. It’s an opportunity to make contributions for the good of human kind that’s presented in no other occupation,” St. Pé said.
The land-loss issue is near and dear to the Port Sulphur native’s heart.
“It’s all about the people. That’s why we need to restore this place, to maintain the wetlands culture. It’s what this area’s known for. Very few people move away from this place. That’s unique, unique among towns, cities and regions around the country,” he said.
St. Pé started his career in 1974 after graduating from Nicholls State University with a degree in marine biology. His career ended up full circle years later as he now runs the estuary program, located on the Nicholls campus in Thibodaux.
After college, St. Pé worked as a marine biologist with Wildlife and Fisheries’ water pollution division responding to citizen pollution complaints, dealing with oil spills, diagnosing fish kills and conducting industrial discharge inspections. He did the same job for Environmental Quality when his department was transferred to the agency, eventually rising to become a regional director.
That position led to St. Pé chairing the scientific-technical committee that culminated in a long-term restoration plan for the estuary.
“It’s been a lot of work done and (the estuary is) much more understood. The estuary program started that process. We spent a lot of time developing the science in the first five years of my tenure. Much of what we know about the estuary began with the estuary program,” St. Pé said.
Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary is one out of 28 national estuary programs in the United States. Thirteen Louisiana parishes, including St. Mary, are located in the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary system. The organization was established under the EPA Clean Water Act to protect coastal resources. The estuary program is a partnership of government, businesses, scientists, conservation organizations, agricultural interests and individuals for the preservation, protection and restoration for the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary in southeast Louisiana.
Over 40-plus years, St. Pé said he’s seen many changes, not all of them for the better.
“As far as land goes, there’s a lot less land now. When I started there was about 25-square-miles of wetland loss per year. Now the rate of loss has decreased considerably, but that’s because we’ve lost most of the land, so land loss is less per year. We’ve lost the most sensitive stuff. Now we’re losing the places we live, the ridges, the highlands. There’s no wetlands to mitigate storm surges. They’re more serious,” he said.
St. Pé said he plans to continue to be active with the estuary program, but it’s time to take some time off.
“I want to know what it’s like to experience life without stress,” he said.
Dean Blanchard, deputy director, will serve as interim director. A search is ongoing for a new director, with applications being accepted until Aug. 31.