Louisiana fishing interests are pleased that BP has managed to stop oil from gushing in the Gulf. (Photo: LA Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board)

Louisiana applauds BP 'static kill' effort

UNITED STATES
Friday, August 06, 2010, 04:30 (GMT + 9)

With the announcement of the opening of the white shrimp season just a day away, the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board is pleased with BP's progress on the "static kill" effort regarding the worst oil spill in US history.

The Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board has welcomed the success of the method known as "static kill", which appears to have plugged BP’s runaway oil well in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Board has also stated that it will continue to fight to restore the health of Louisiana’s seafood industry, which has an annual economic contribution of more than USD 2.4 billion.

“We are pleased that the latest effort to seal the BP oil well appears to have been successful,” said Ewell Smith, executive director of the Louisiana Seafood Board. “For three plus months Louisianans have watched as our livelihood, culture and economy have been crippled by this terrible environmental disaster.”

Since the disaster began in late April, many commercial fishermen in Louisiana and other Gulf states have been unable to fish due to closures and loss of market. Fish processors have struggled greatly, many forced to close businesses that had been in operation for generations, and entire communities have been placed on the brink of peril.

A Louisiana fisherman handling a shrimp catch. (Photo: Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board)

“We now begin the rebuilding process. With the well sealed, it is very important that BP help us transition our fishermen and get them back to work,” said Smith. “BP can do this by immediately embracing our Back To The Dock program, which will incentivize fishermen to return to work harvesting safe fish from approved waters.”

The Seafood Board ‘s “Back to the Dock” proposal was first presented to BP in May. The program suggests that BP provide fishermen a 30 per cent premium on top of the market price they receive for seafood they sell at the dock.

Current data shows that 360 miles of Louisiana’s 7,600-mile coastline has been affected by the oil. Many fisheries are open and the Louisiana Seafood Board has been highly vocal in its support of the extensive testing of fish and the waters from which they’re harvested. The Board has also supported government closures of fishing waters and applauded openings as they’ve come about.
 

Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board

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