Let’s start this post with the big picture: the oil has stopped flowing into the Gulf.  A lot of Louisiana men and women played a huge part in fixing that problem and we tip our tie-dyed bandanas to them.  With that said, even if you take the most optimistic estimates that have been published, there is still oil in the water, on the beaches, and in the marshlands of the Gulf Coast.  This is a gigantic challenge to the families that work those waters.

J.P. & Michelle (and the rest of the crew) wanted to do something for the people that make a living off Louisiana's coastlands.  Year after year, season after season, they give us the best of their catches and we feast on them at our dinner tables. 

We want to return the favor.

We’re sending some love down to these families in the form of loaves of Honey Whole Wheat.  You’re invited to join us: every loaf that you come in and donate between Tuesday, September 28^th and Friday, October 1^st will be matched, loaf for loaf, by Great Harvest.  My personal goal is that you buy enough that my arms will be sore by the end of the week from kneading all of those loaves!!!

We realize that this issue has become politicized and we don’t want anyone to feel like we’re taking sides or helping some people at the expense of others.  We asked two people close to fishing families for five reasons why this is beneficial:

1. Many people are back to work fishing. However, as one fisherman pointed out; "fishing is not the same as catching." There are mixed reports right now about the amount and size of the shrimp being caught. Additionally, many seafood brokers are refusing to buy Louisiana seafood because of the national perception that it is covered in oil.

2. Some fishermen who worked the spill in their fishing boats are starting to get sick and cannot go back on the water. We had a front page story about it in the Comet and Courier.

3. Fishing families typically rely on the profits from their fall catch to get them through the winter with boat repairs and family bills. If they can't make money now, they will need help in the winter and there will be no BP jobs for their boats.

4. No one yet knows the impact of the oil on the larvae in the Gulf. What will happen to the shrimp, crabs, oysters and finfish in the spring and next fall?

5. BP has not provided any direct humanitarian funding since their initial contribution in May. That money ran out over the summer in most places along the Gulf.

Robert D. Gorman, LCSW, ACSW
Executive Director
Catholic Charities
Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

1) Many people are still struggling to make ends meet with waters still closed for fishing and those areas that are open, fishermen often find oil and refuse to bring that in.  Their seafood is being called "safe to eat" yet there is resistance from buyers, because of the perception that it is not safe to eat.

 2) The worst is yet to come, as fishermen usually work all the summer and save money to live on in the winter months. Now there are no savings and no fish or seafood in their freezers to feed their families.

3) There are great concerns by the fishermen and other community members, not only about the seafood and quality, but about air quality due to oil and dispersant intrusion into the communities. There have also been concerns about incidents of raid wildlife and fish kills.

4) There is a rise in need for health care. Both mental and physical due to the issues described above. People fear that the seafood industry and their lives will never ever again be the same. Many are not sleeping, people are angry, depressed and in distress and feel like no one cares about their lives and the effect this has had on their livelihoods.

5) The whole issue of payments for losses by Mr. Feinberg has caused more stress and disappointment as fishermen and others are receiving offers of very small amounts that will not even help pay their household bills for one month much less for the next six. Most payments we have heard are in the $600.00 range.

Sharon S. Gauthe, BISCO Director
BISCO (Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing)