Despite reports by experts that initial testing had proved positive, the brown shrimp season has gotten off to a poor start. A government source confirms the catches are down dramatically, and because of the high cost of gas and the low price for gulf shrimp, some fisherman have already given up one week into the season.
“It’s the worst I’ve ever seen for a shrimp season open,” says Acy Cooper, a Venice-based shrimper and VP of the Louisiana Shrimp Association. “The brownies we are getting are very small and there’s not too many of them. People around here can’t make a living with the price of shrimp these days and the high prices of gas. It’s going to get bad around here if we can’t catch more shrimp.”
And despite reports the oil spill hadn’t hit the fisheries as hard as some worried about, now fisherman wonder if the impact of the spill is worse than expected.
“Barataria Bay is just dead,” says Karen Hopkins of Dean Blanchard Seafood, “We’re trying to get Wildlife and Fisheries to close the season down because we don’t want to kill the entire crop of babies.”
Clint Guidry, the President of the Louisiana Shrimp Association, said of Barataria Bay, “It’s still early in the season, but it’s not hard to explain. BP did it. Whether we’ll ever be able to absolutely prove it is another thing.”
The poor catches of brown shrimp are troubling and not just for this season, it’s also a potential indicator of the Gulf’s future health, “I’ve never seen an open like this one,” said David Arnesen, a fisherman and shrimper, “They can’t blame it on high water because some areas don’t get fresh water here. Shrimp are a major food source in the food chain. It may take years to see the full impacts. But it don’t matter which end you hurt. It’s all connected from the top to the bottom. If the shrimp are in trouble, we’re all in trouble.”
Read the article:
Warning Signs Flash at the Start of a Crucial Shrimp Season in the Gulf
Have a nice…
Oh…one more moment…something I can’t let pass without comment…
When Mitsui agreed to pony up $1 billion dollars to British Petroleum as their portion of damages to the Gulf, Bob Dudley said, “This settlement is an important step forward for BP and the Gulf Communities.”
Right.
This corporate BS double-speak drives me crazy. This settlement has nothing to do with Gulf Coast communities and everything to do with helping BP pay what they’re already on the hook for paying. Also, the settlement may strengthen BP’s case they aren’t solely at fault on the Deepwater Horizon and therefore, not “grossly negligent” which will save them billions more in fines…
That isn’t good for the Gulf Coast. That doesn’t make things right.
Nice try, Bob…but stop pretending otherwise.
Okay, now…
Have a nice day.
Drake Toulouse: Photography and Words 
Update on my claim:
About 12 days after I brought info they requested to my local office the supervisor of the “Small Business Team” (at the local office) called to ask if I could bring it again, as the Ohio office did not upload it yet so he figured they lost it. I stopped what I was doing and once again got it to them within a couple of hours. He said it would be mailed overnite again to Ohio.
Well, finally this Saturday I checked my status online and found a determination letter. Bottom line: no interim payment and they “offer” $25k. Here is how they screwed me.
(Examples, not my actual figures)
They determined that my business had lost $100,000 revenue because of the oil spill in 2010. BUT they use Loss of Income (LOI) percentage of 35%. So they adjust my loss of $100K to 35K. $35K x 2 years = $70K. $70K – $60K (my Advanced Emergency Payment)
= 10K. So they calculate that they only owe me 10K, but will offer me the $25K quick pay amount.
Yeah, they figured that because of the spill I lost $100K in business but saved $65K in expenses! Total BS but I knew they would do what ever they had to to get to the $25K amount. Right now I have placed 2 calls to ask how they arrived at the LOI percentage of 35%, but only an accountant can tell me so I have to wait for a return call.
Meanwhile my friend with the business claim that went into dispute came back, of course, using the exact same wrong figures and the offer is still $25k. They basically told him to use his right to sue if he is not happy with the offer.
The whole LOI thing should not even be used. Many cases money “saved” last year was not saved, just not spent yet. Like equipment that I should have repaired last year, but could not afford to do, so this year it has to be replaced instead of repaired. Or experienced workers that had to move on to find work, now this year new ones must be trained, or cheaper prices form vendors when I’m buying a lot of material, but now I’m back to the higher prices since volume of buying is way down.
Every dollar that the BP spill stopped from coming into my business should be paid by them, not 35 cents on the dollar. BP making it right – for BP shareholders, not the Gulf.
I’m sorry to hear about this…but you are not alone…from e-mail I’ve received and comments on this blog it would appear that as soon as the anniversary came and went, the GCCF is keeping as many as possible to the quick pay thresholds, regardless of interim or final claim. The heat is off now, and they are running rampant over the futures of the Gulf…
Do you think you’ll wind up suing?
-Drake
I’m not sure yet. At this point I know that is the route I should take If I want to get any kind of real settlement. I do hate the thought of involving an attorney, as they may get me a larger percentage, but also they will take a perecntage – and after how much itme.
I won’t file with the Coast Guard as the outcome will be the same as with the GCCF. I don’t think I will bother to file another interim claim because they will still just offer 35% of my loss. I want this whole process to be over but not at my expense.
At some point this week a GCCF accountant should return my call (yeah, right) as they said 24-72 hours. All I expext to hear from them is some evil-speak as to how they arrived at the 35% LOI.
After that I’ll just take a week or so to not even think about the GCCF or BP. Then I think I’ll have to contact an attorney and find out how dragged out the prosess will be. Feinberg is really a master at what he does. And there is no stopping him, except for one person in the White House, who refuses to do anything to make BP or GCCF “make it right.” BP owes somebody big time.
I am curious as to how they came up with that 35% LOI, and yeah, I get the whole needing a break from the GCCF. Earlier this month, I took a couple of weeks off for the most part, burned out by the whole thing and I don’t even have a claim.
I wish you well, and a good rest from the mess…”Making it right…” has become such the cruel joke…
-Drake
35% sounds pretty low. what is your gross profit shown on your tax return