The Gulf Coast is bracing for disaster as oil spilled from the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform was predicted to reach Louisiana’s shoreline on Friday. Wind and current forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict the oil sheen will reach the state’s eastern shoreline and move Northeast toward the Mississippi Delta and as far east as Pensacola, Fla., this weekend. An estimated 80 percent of the country’s domestic, wild seafood supply is harvested in the region.
On Sunday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration closed the waters most affected by the oil spill — largely between Louisiana state waters at the mouth of the Mississippi River to the waters off Florida’s Pensacola Bay — to commercial fishing for a minimum of 10 days.
“NOAA scientists are on the ground in the area of the oil spill taking water and seafood samples in an effort to ensure the safety of the seafood and fishing activities,” said NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco, who met with more than 100 fishermen in Louisiana’s Plaquemines Parish on Friday. “I heard the concerns of the Plaquemines Parish fishermen as well other fishermen and state fisheries managers about potential economic impacts of a closure. Balancing economic and health concerns, this order closes just those areas that are affected by oil. There should be no health risk in seafood currently in the marketplace.”
Mike Voisin, president of Motivatit Seafoods in Houma, La., said on Thursday that the state government made a disaster declaration for the area. Commercial fishermen have helped the federal and state efforts to set up floating booms in the water to contain the oil, noted Voisin.
Louisiana and federal officials have been working with recreational and commercial seafood industries, and all others affected, since BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling platform caught fire on 20 April and collapsed a day later.
Officials estimate approximately 5,000 barrels of oil continue to gush from the well daily, and several attempts to shut off the well’s valve have failed. Unofficial reports have said oil could continue to spew into the ocean for up to two months, when another rig could be positioned over the well to begin capping off the flow.
State officials opened up the region’s shrimp season on Thursday instead of waiting until the normal opener in mid-May. Oystermen are still harvesting product, said Voisin, but are working with state officials to monitor the oil slick. Oyster-harvest areas will be closed when the oil comes within a few miles. In addition to the closures, any oil contamination will affect the oyster’s summertime reproductive season and future harvests, Voisin added.
“At this time, we are not sure of the impact that it will have as the oil continues to move toward parts of our coast,” said Ewell Smith, executive director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board. “Our coastline is more than 300 miles long, and our fishermen continue to fish in waters that are not being impacted by the oil spill. Many of our fishermen have partnered with British Petroleum’s Vessel of Opportunity Program, which will pay fishermen for the use of their fishing vessels to assist in the ongoing efforts to protect our coastline. Fishermen have allocated some of their vessels to take part in this program.
“Louisiana produces more than 30 percent of the nation’s domestic seafood and leads the nation in production of shrimp, crawfish, blue crab and oysters. We are committed to keeping the nation in supply of our seafood. In addition to the seafood that continues to be landed on docks, our suppliers have inventory in stock that is available,” added Smith.
Meanwhile, some in the seafood industry are preparing to file class-action lawsuits against BP and other companies related to the disaster.
Leake & Andersson, LLP, a New Orleans law firm that specializes in litigation and international trade work, is investigating the potential impact the oil spill may have on the domestic seafood industry. Attorney Edward Hayes represents several Louisiana fishermen and some members of the American Shrimp Processors Association, which has its annual meeting in Biloxi, Miss., this week. Hayes is meeting with ASPA members today and preparing to file several lawsuits next week.
The Oil Pollution Act was established after the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska to provide compensation for environmental and economic losses connected with an oil spill, noted Hayes. The Act provides a 90-day period in which affected companies or individuals can file a claim and the oil company can settle. Hayes plans to file a lawsuit naming BP and other companies that serviced the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. He expects some claims that could fall under the Act will be held, or stayed, by the courts.
“The last thing we want to do is inflame a devastating situation, but we have been fighting to protect the domestic shrimp industry for years and it is our responsibility to make sure that shrimp and all local seafood industries survive this disaster and obtain compensation if owed,” he said.
Hayes reported that retailers as far away as Georgia have called shrimp processors to gauge the potential domestic supply.
“Perhaps my biggest fear is that domestic supply will be hampered to the extent that retail outlets have no choice but to rely upon imports. That could be the proverbial straw for the domestic shrimp industry,” said Hayes.
Voisin added the Gulf oyster industry is also considering legal action.
“We want to work with BP, they’re good neighbors. This is a crisis for all of us. We’ll deal with the crisis now, and then deal with legal issues down the road. No one wins when you’re in court,” he added.
