“Oysters are part of our culture,” said Slavich, a third-generation oysterman. “You need to really think carefully before doing anything to jeopardize the continuance of that species.” Photo: Ed Lallo/Louisiana Seafood News
by Rick Jervis, USA TODAY
To coastal scientists, releasing thousands of gallons of fresh water into southern Louisiana’s briny swampland would help revitalize wetlands that have vanished over the years.
To St. Bernard Parish oysterman Sam Slavich, the thought is like a noose tightening around his livelihood. Freshwater diversions that were opened to repel crude from the 2010 BP oil spill may have contributed to 70% of his oyster harvests dying.
A repeat of that could put him and dozens of his oyster-harvesting colleagues out of business for good, he said.
A sizable chunk of the $4.5 billion the Department of Justice recently fined BP for its role in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill could be headed to Louisiana soon to kick-start coastal restoration projects, some of which have been drawn up for years but lacked funding, according to state coastal officials.
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