Spill could wipe seafood from shelves

[marmar]

Spill could wipe seafood from shelves
Sunday, May 9, 2010


CLEARWATER — This spring marks the 20th year that Rob Cameron has owned Ward's Seafood Market. But instead of planning a celebration, the 48-year-old is focused on government websites and keeping tabs on the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

With the slick continuing to spread from the BP oil rig explosion April 20, Cameron does not know if and when his business will be forced to stop selling gulf seafood. "Never in my wildest dreams did I expect an oil explosion like this in the gulf," he said.

"My game plan now is to monitor NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) for closures and to continue educating customers. My employees explain things like which seafood is from the Gulf of Mexico and what is considered safe fishing areas," said Cameron, who uses local fishermen to bring in what he sells.

In the north end of Ward's Seafood, 1101 Belleair Road, sits an eating area with about six tables. Out of 23 entrees on the menu, 12 include seafood from the Gulf of Mexico.

Other items, like haddock from Boston and salmon from Scotland, arrive at Ward's in packaged filets. But in the back cooler, the local fish are kept whole. They are placed belly side down and packed in ice. Within two days, the mango snapper, red grouper and mullet are filleted by one of Ward's 12 employees and sold at the front counter. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/spill-could-wipe-seafood-from-shelves/1093408

[jody]

1. The real economic and social impact of the BP disaster will never be known and it may change the

ocean environment permanently.

[Bobbieo]

3. Yes, so let's 'Chill the Drill, Baby'.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I saw an environmental expert last weekend who said we won't have oysters for 10 years

She said we might not have shrimp for 10 years either.

[Merlot]

6. There will always be farmed shrimp from china...

And shrimp farming is really disgusting. I won't go into details.

[lillypaddle]

7. Overseas?

I was buying some shrimp at a Publix supermarket here in Atlanta, and started talking about the gulf spill and the effect it would have on seafood and the price. "Oh, don't worry," he said to me, "all of our shrimp comes from 'overseas.'" WTF does that mean, and why would we import shrimp when we have it off our own gulf coast? Or DID have it. I'm thinking maybe he means from China.

[flvegan]

4. Tis a shame

that BP is killing them before we ever got a chance to. :cry:

:eyes:

[foxfeet]

5. The shortage will likely increase pressure on other fisheries,

such as the North Pacific. Puget Sound (and the whole Salish Sea)still produces oysters and other shellfish.

[JCMach1]

8. A big portion of the farmed Clams in the US come from Cedar Key

which is directly in harms way...

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100509/ARTICLES/5091006/1118?Title=Cedar-Key-residents-have-become-hardened-by-disaster

...The work that isn't really work to Davis is now a huge part of the economic fabric of Cedar Key. A 2007 study determined that the 135 clammers who leased at least two acres on the floor of the Gulf of Mexico produced 135 million clams, resulting in a $45 million annual impact on the city.

The study also showed how significant Cedar Key clams are to the state: The statewide economic impact was $53 million a year...

[Codeine]

9. Who cares if people won't have Gulf fish to cram down their overstuffed gullets?

The environmental destruction is far more devastating than the havoc it will wreak on the dinner plates of an already-overfed populace.