Threatening an economic engine

Even if the leaking BP oil well is permanently plugged, the spilled oil in the Gulf of Mexico will threaten profits for recreational and commercial fishing operations, which make up one of the largest industries in the region.
Although the number of oiled fish washing up on shore appears to be small so far, officials warn that the impact could be enormous and have already some of area fishing grounds.

Gulf of Mexico seafood industry Breakdown of Gulf commerical landings, by state (2008) In millions of dollars
The effects of oil Commercial fish landings In millions of dollars Texas Louisiana Mississippi Alabama Florida
ON CRUSTACEANS Shellfish Fin fish

The bulk of the Gulf’s shellfish industry

2008 total $661.5 million
relies on coastal marshlands and $800
$176.1 $274.9 $43.7 $44.3 $122.5
estuaries as spawning and habitation
grounds; oil entering this delicate 600
ecosystem can kill adult and larval
populations through toxicity or the effect
of smothering; animals that survive may 400
experience high levels of contaminants
that can be passed on to
predators 200 42,500 44,000 8,600 9,800 108,600
(Jobs for entire
state)

2000 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 Seafood industry jobs, by state (2008)

Recreational fishing
Total trips (millions) Revenue Total employment

113,327
20 From trips $1.45 billion
From other sources
10 $11.1 billion
Includes spending on tackle, boat,
vehicle and second homes
2000 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08
Major commercial seafood include
• Blue crab • Spiny lobster
• Stone crab • Shrimp (brown, Busiest fishing ports
• Oysters white, pink and red) Several of the nation’s largest — and most lucrative — fishing ports are on the Gulf Coast
Major fishing ports (circle size indicates annual value of seafood landings)
ON FIN FISH
Mississippi Alabama
The region’s numerous Louisiana
species of commercial and
sport fin fish, which inhabit
most of the northern Gulf, will
Texas
be most affected closer to Marshlands
land, where they spawn and
larvae are most susceptible to
damage from oil; small
amounts of oil can be
processed by fish through their
intestinal system, but with
larger amounts, uptake
through the gills or
Site of Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Florida
ingestion of oil can lead
to reduced growth, organ Horizon drilling rig
malfunction and reproductive
system impairment
Area closed to fishing
As of May 25
Major commercial
seafood include
• Red snapper • Grouper
• Amberjack • Atlantic bluefin tuna Extent of thick oil spill
• Triggerfish • Menhaden As of May 24

© 2010 MCT
Source: NOAA, BP, USGS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Graphic: Max Rust and Steve Layton, Chicago Tribune