BP Oil Leak - On the ground update # 9

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced Friday evening that it would open fishing in areas east of the Mississippi River. This includes most of the Breton Sound Basin, and my favorite fishing destination, Delacroix Island. I have some things to take care of over the next few days, but you can bet that I will be out fishing Delacroix as soon as possible. I am not worried about the fish in that area being contaminated because there has not been a single report of oil sheen that far inside the estuary. Most reports of oil sightings are still occurring out in the Breton and Chandeleur sounds.

Tomorrow I will interview the Mankin family. I recently met the family after working with their oldest son, Austin, on a video. The father, Glen Mankin, is an oyster fisherman. Although the east side of the river is now open to recreational and commercial fishing, oyster harvesting is still closed, so Glen is still out of work. Now that an outside contractor will be facilitating the BP Vessel of Opportunity program in St. Bernard Parish, many fishermen like Glen will be leaving the program. The reasons vary amongst fishermen but a large part of their absence has to do with the rules and regulations that they must follow. I can understand how they feel. They have been catching shrimp, crabs, and oysters for many years by doing what they know best. Now, they would be working for some outside company, not fishing, and under strict scrutiny in their performance.

Its an eery feeling that things appear to be progressing and the oil has not reached the marsh like many of us thought it would have. There's no way to tell whether or not the coastal communities have escaped this disaster because the oil is still leaking and the relief well is still two months from being finished. There are also no reports on the impacts of the chemical dispersants in the water column. Yet, me must, as we have done many times in South Louisiana, strive forward to protect our home.