| OCEAN SPRINGS — The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) has received $37 million to aid local fishermen, shrimpers, charter boats, and crabbers. After the completion of federal grants applications, the money was released on the first of November 2006. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded five states $128 million to help the once prosperous fleet of the Gulf Coast. Mississippi is the first to activate the money.
FEMA has established regulations for the state of Mississippi on how the funds are to be used. Oyster, shrimp, blue crab, and artificial reefs are to be restored, monitored, and enhanced. The exact method of how goals are to be reached is still in question.
MDMR representitives representatives have met with various fishermen to ask suggestions for the funding. MDMR fisheries biologist Bill Richardson said, “We have been given the money, but we have to ask for a service to reward the money.”
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Photo credit: Lauren Byrd
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Gulf Coast shrimpers are financially struggling with minimal federal assistance after Hurricane Katrina. Frank Parker, captain of Fair Madden, peddles his shrimp at the Ocean Springs Harbor.
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The program is participant dependent. Although FEMA has established the priorities for the funds, there are numerous tasks that must be done. Oystermen can relocate shellfish, fishermen can collect specimens for local laboratories, and crabbers can collect abandoned traps. All of the tasks are under FEMA guidelines.
Shrimpers will receive federal funding, but the funds they receive will not be given until 4-8 weeks after the requests are completed. The postponement of payments makes it impossible for boat owners to survive. They have many expenses such as paying their crew, gas, maintenance and repairs, and feeding their families.
The funding they receive is taxed. The local workers are contracted by the state and are awarded a service. They have to fill out a W-9 form, claiming all of their funds. Most of the money they receive, a mere $200 dollars a day, is the bare minimal.
“Currently, shrimpers are left peddling shrimp on the docks. The gas prices are high, and the shrimp prices are low, we have no profit,” said captain of Fair Madden Frank Parker. Fair Madden endured $2,300 worth of damage during Hurricane Katrina.
Charter boat captains are not very excited about the grant money. The fishing fleet don’t fish during the winter. Most of their boats are being worked on and are out of the water. For charter, in order for boats to receive funds, they have to run a paid fishing trip with a customer and there are very few tourists in the winter months.
“It stinks! We have to have a trip or charter to get money. We have no trip to run. Nobody wants to go fishing,” said charter boat captain Joe Byrd, “At least they are doing something. All the shrimpers have to do is put their nets in the water. We have to get a paid trip.”
The Biloxi seafood industry has been in limbo since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Many vessels were destroyed and water ways were not navigable because of debris. The debris in the water tears the nets and there are very few places to have the nets repaired.
“MDMR is working on a program to service lost nets and broken boards, but proof of loss or ripped nets is impossible. Everyone, with or without nets will want a set of nets,” said Richardson of MDMR.
If a shrimper lost his boat during the storm, he can use another vessel, but his original vessel must have been registered during the 2005-2006 season. To get funds, all licenses, registrations, inspections and insurance must be current and up to date.
Many shrimpers complain about the shrimp issues. One local shrimper who would like to be anonymous said, “There are too many political powers that do not allow the shrimping business to succeed. We sell the shrimp, other countries sell more and political leaders want their hands in it. Also if the shrimp price is going down, why are shrimp dishes in restaurants going up? I don’t mind selling shrimp at a low price but I do mind going out to a restaurant and eating a seafood plate that is over priced. Our business is getting riskier and riskier. It is not dangerous but everyone is trying to run us out. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has meetings but they are in Tampa and Texas, but the majority of fishermen are from Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. We can’t afford to go to Texas and Florida for a meeting; I don’t understand why they won’t have the meeting here.”
The seafood industry on the coast is in shambles. Most of the seafood is being imported, and Biloxi seafood is in little demand. Seafood factories and their employees are struggling to stay in business.
Now that shrimpers, fishermen, oystermen, and crabbers are given a chance to receive funds, one year after Katrina devastated to coast, they still have very minimal financial support.
Lauren Byrd is a junior journalism major at the University of Southern Mississippi.
The After Katrina Newswire is a project of the School of Mass Communication and Journalism at USM (www.usm.edu/afterkatrina). This story can be reprinted with this credit included.
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