The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico continues to devastate communities, such as the town of Bayou La Batre in Alabama. While BP has started a program called "Vessels of Opportunity" to hire out boats from local fisherman, recreational boats appear to have stolen the chances away from commercial fisherman. Director of Vessels of Opportunity, Andrew Cassels, stated that the number of recreational boats hired from Alabama has been cut from "13 to 23 percent". However locals claim that nothing of the like has happened. The residents live in constant fear of a claim to bankruptcy by BP or an end of the Vessels of Opportunity program, the little amout of income it allowes into Bayou La Batre sustaining the painicing citizens. Previously, even after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the locals had never feared starvation because of the sea, now that "security" is gone due to the oil spill and panic has set in.
The "compensation" that BP claims to be giving out clearly is not enough and not fast enough to keep cities like Bayou La Batre alive. I think commercial fishermen should be allowed first hand at employment oppertunities offered by BP, rather than people who have enough money to buy a recreational boat. While every effort is appreciated, recreational fishermen should be volunteering rather than preventing those who depend entirely on their trade for income and sustenance.
Article Referenced:
Leland, John. "Cleanup Hiring Feeds Frustration in Fishing Town." NYTimes. New York Times. 26 June 2010. Web. June 2010
I agree with your statement, "commercial fishermen should be allowed first hand at employment oppertunities offered by BP, rather than people who have enough money to buy a recreational boat", yet believe that owners of BP gas stations should also have this privilage. Because of the recent boycotts of BP gas, station owners have been suffering, even though they have nothing to do with the oil spill and BP wouldnt be directly affected. Because of this lack of knowledge, the owners are the ones suffering, not BP, thus they should also have an upper hand in recieving jobs from the company. BP should look deeper into the affects the spill had on all of their affiliates so that those who deserve compensation, recieve it.
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