The fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico have lost a lot of potential money from the BP oil spill. The oil was covering their fish or shrimp and the fishing closures the oil was making it impossible for the fishermen to work. As an Alaskan, I see firsthand how closures affect people who live in fishing communities. They are affected financially as well as mentally. Many of the fishermen have sold their boats and left.
On September 28, 2010, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced the following:
The recreational harvest of red snapper in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters off Florida will be open for eight consecutive three-day weekends, beginning October 1. The regular recreational harvest season for red snapper in Gulf waters took place from June 1 until July 24 this year. Anglers, except for the captain and crew of for-hire vessels, may keep two red snapper greater than 16 inches total length per person on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning October 1 and extending for eight consecutive weekends through November 21 (FFWCC, 2010).
Many people are saying that these extra fishing days and increased numbers mean that the oil spill was good. This is false and they anger me. The BP Oil Spill was the worst environmental disaster in the history of the United States. The fishermen really need this extended season. The fishing laws are decided on after checking fish numbers, and the BP oil spill may have killed some fish for the next year.
That and the fact that it may lead to over-fishing of red snappers. This oil spill may actually lead into another disaster.
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