Has the BP Oil Spill Affected Gulf Shrimp?

This second episode in New Orleans started with a very early morning. We drove out to the tip of Louisiana. Storms had wiped out so much, most everything was new as we approached our destination. It wasn't easy to find someone to take us out fishing, as gas is expensive and it doesn't make sense to go out for less than a few days. But we found Sinh Pham -- a Vietnamese fisherman trying to get by with low dock prices for his shrimp, high fuel prices and the uncertainty of the BP oil spill effects on his industry. There are a lot of disagreements out there about the future of fishing and shrimping in the gulf. This episode shows one perspective (and some awesome food too!)

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Comments

[GerryS]

12:45 AM on 06/23/2011

yes,

you can saute without adding any oil----------

[InedaName]

03:48 PM on 06/22/2011

I remember last year as oil was gushing at full force seeing someone on CNN from the Waterkeeper Alliance saying that all the Gulf Coast shrimp could be wiped out as a result of the spill. A few months later, I saw a documentary on NatGeo that followed a Gulf Coast shrimper in the aftermath of the spill. Their nets were only half full and they had to seek public assistance to support their families. And I swear to God, they went right to an Endless Shrimp at Red Lobster commercial!!!

[GerryS]

12:47 AM on 06/23/2011

LOL,

those TV stations---------------

PS, the shrimp that RL serves isn't shrimp,,,,,,,, it's reconstituted fish something, like fake crab-------

[cat5663]

02:12 PM on 06/28/2011

Really?? How do they get those little tails to stay on...?

[yahooserious]

10:11 PM on 06/21/2011

The only fish I'm willing to eat any longer is cajun fried catfish. Just too delicious to not eat once or twice a year. Otherwise, forget it.

[Mr Crabs]

08:54 PM on 06/21/2011

BP news release: Shrimp now come with added bonus, the extra oil inside will fry the inside of the shrimp too. Imagine a shrimp that is crunchy throughout. And when you're done, all the oil you crap out can run your home heating oil boiler in winter, needed because of recent government cuts to the poor.

[sonoffestus]

08:17 PM on 06/21/2011

Don't know, my family will not eat any seafood that comes out of the Gulf. We are buying less and less seafood as the oceans become the world's toilets. There's problems everywhere.

Just don't eat that yellow snow.........................................

[BrunoChopps]

12:47 AM on 06/22/2011

Can you be more unnecessarily depressing?

I was just in New Orleans and the oysters were just as good as years past. Sorry to spoil your negativity.

[sonoffestus]

11:03 AM on 06/22/2011

Ah yes, the freedom of choice, enjoy!

[Kramerica Industries]

12:21 PM on 06/22/2011

I agree with you. I've had Gulf shimp and oysters numerous times since the BP spill. But there's still a part of me that wonders if there are any remnants of the oil, or more importantly, the dispersant chemicals used during the spill and resutling clean up. It's just hard to really, genuinely know if what we're eating is safe. Still delicious? Definitely.

[mrhandyman3105]

08:08 PM on 06/21/2011

Since the oil spill, will not eat any seafood from the gulf. Gonna stop eating tuna and other fish caught of the coast of Japan. No more Sushi for me. Therefore, not if it's not farm raised, probably will not eat it.

[GerryS]

12:49 AM on 06/23/2011

farm raised??

sea fleas and other ailments???

I will not eat farm raised seafood, I have been there and seen the fish----------------------------

[skos45]

06:35 PM on 06/21/2011

Do we eat shrimp from the Gulf with a little oil mixed in or do we eat the shrimp from china. bangladesh and other dirty countries that may have human Shi?? in them? ENJOY. Not counting all the other seafood they send to our Country. Don't buy their crap let them eat it.

[cque8]

05:13 PM on 06/21/2011

Nothing like Gulf Shrimp. Good Eatin' Sha!.

[Daniel Klein]

07:49 PM on 06/21/2011

indeed

[AmyRenee]

04:54 PM on 06/21/2011

i'm not sure if i trust the seafood just yet... but gosh how I want some shrimps...

[Daniel Klein]

07:50 PM on 06/21/2011

its hard to know. i probably wouldn't eat it everyday. but it sure was delicious!

[Golfer59]

04:35 PM on 06/21/2011

I honestly could care less about the people of the Gulf. They are in bed with the oil companies and when the oil companies hurt their way of life (i.e. BP) they run to the Federal Government to fix the problem. You got a Govenor saying "the federal govenment needs to get out of the way" every chance he gets to show his face on TV.

[as if]

05:48 PM on 06/21/2011

What planet are you on where all of "the people of the Gulf" are "in bed with the oil companies?"

[Golfer59]

08:05 PM on 06/21/2011

They sent Vitter back to the Senate. Enough said!!!

[aidendamien]

08:07 PM on 06/21/2011

@Golfer59-Dude, I'm a liberal who is down here who wants good shrimp and not oil based shrimp. What you should have said is that conservative outnumber common sense 10 to 1, so they would drill on their own house if it meant a handout of money.

[Golfer59]

10:56 PM on 06/21/2011

Okay "aidendamien" then what you said times ten. I don't get the people down there one ******* bit!!!! Your Represenatives, Senators, Govenor and Parish leaders are all on the take!!

[Greatest Darthfruit]

01:32 PM on 06/21/2011

I wouldn't eat shrimp if the restaurant owner does not show me it has been bought from shrimp farms

[sonoffestus]

08:19 PM on 06/21/2011

Shrimp farms can be some nasty places........You might want it check it out.

[GerryS]

12:50 AM on 06/23/2011

YUP-

signed, a retired restaurant owner--------

[NYCFoodie]

11:54 AM on 06/21/2011

This is an awesome video. But Im wondering...is shrimping a sustainable resource?

[Daniel Klein]

01:05 PM on 06/21/2011

Apparently in the gulf they breed really well and under normal circumstances, continue to thrive

[GerryS]

12:51 AM on 06/23/2011

it's the hot water-------

[sonoffestus]

08:21 PM on 06/21/2011

BC spot prawns are and they have gulf shrimp beat hands down and by a mile. Its a short season 3 or 4 weeks, but we will eat them at least once, if not twice a week during the season.