Seafood prices about to SOAR! and that's only part of the problem

[Gerry]

I have been following this oil spill closely. I have many family members in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. Most in Louisiana either live in the coastal area of Houma or New Orleans. My dad is buried in New Orleans.

They have suffered many hardships.

My Uncle lives in Diamond Head (Bay St. Louis) Mississippi. Most of his kids (my cousins) had their homes lost in Katrina. His son's family and one of his daughter's family had homes in Waveland that were completely washed away in the Katrina surge. It was so bad, the could not even find their streets because of all the muck and debris. Nothing was left.

My family and friends in Houma are shrimpers or machinists that make their living in the shrimping/boating industry.

This oil disaster is a monster growing in size that now threatens the entire Gulf coast from Louisiana to Florida. Unlike the Valdez in Alaska, there was a quantity of oil limited to the amount of oil that ship could carry. There is no known limit or quantity to this spill.

Not only are the people who make their living from the Gulf in peril, delicate delta ecosystems, wildlife, and marine life are in danger. As a vacation destination, the entire Gulf shore is bracing themselves for another disaster. This disaster could be equally or more destructive than Katrina. And with an equally or longer lasting after effect.

The area affected will be at least as large and potentially larger than the devastating Katrina. The oil will cover everything. And when it does wash up on shore, it could leave an oily sludge 6" thick (or more) on everything. Already, people on shore are reporting that they can smell the fuel.

A change in direction only means an even greater disaster in terms of scope and size of those affected.

This oil slick can choke the life out of the aquatic life, from the plankton that feed the fish to the shrimp and bottom marine life. There are dolphins and whales in the Gulf that come up to the surface to breathe. There are already potential flood warnings out due to high winds (20 knots) coming from the southeast as well as a full moon. Tides are expected to be 3 feet above normal.

This oil could threaten the delta region making landfall as early as today! Yes, today! It is less than 16 miles from of the Louisiana delta outlying islands.

The owner of the oil rig, BP, is supposed to be responsible for implementing clean up and coordinating the effort. This is way too big for BP as this now is on the verge of a National Ecological disaster.

This is not going away any time soon. And for my family and friends in the area, it may be the final blow to a successful recovery from another disaster. The fishing industry is not going to recover as there will be bans on all seafood caught in the area for potentially years, not to mention the destruction of breeding grounds for much of the marine wildlife, birds, and mammals.

[H2FC]

I'm so mad about this whole thing I can hardly stand it. Now we learn the spillage is at least 5 times worst than what the oil barons were originally telling us. I knew they were lying from the beginning and will not be surprised to learn later its 10 or 15 times as bad as what they're saying.

We can't believe a word these greedy bastards tell us and yet we still have the "Drill Baby Drill" idiots supporting them. I wonder what they're thinking now.....or even if they give a damn.

Maybe I should be wondering if they even have enough brains to understand the magnitude of the problem.

[Creature]

When make pipeline, fit isolator taps. If pipe break, turn off tap. Fish is already too expensive, prices in the UK are ridiculous.

[500,000]

I'm so mad about this whole thing I can hardly stand it. Now we learn the spillage is at least 5 times worst than what the oil barons were originally telling us. I knew they were lying from the beginning and will not be surprised to learn later its 10 or 15 times as bad as what they're saying.

We can't believe a word these greedy bastards tell us and yet we still have the "Drill Baby Drill" idiots supporting them. I wonder what they're thinking now.....or even if they give a damn.

Maybe I should be wondering if they even have enough brains to understand the magnitude of the problem.

You need to blame the government for not adding a safe shut off vale on every 500 feet of pipe.

Next you need to blame the ones that blowed it up killing 11 people.

If we dont use oil now, We can have a earth quake that may leek it to the surface or ignite a volcano

[draggar]

I can see it now - while Florida is still split over drilling off our shores, I can see that quickly going to "against" it once the oil gets close to our shores.

I have a strange feeling this wasn't an "accident", too - or at least as much of an "accident" that they're telling us (and will tell us). I sense another flight 800 coming our way.

As for safe shutoffs, I'm also willing to bet that we'll see this implemented (mandatory) in all new wells and probably all older ones will need to be retrofitted. You'd think this would be on one that is "state of the art" and "brand new"?

[Gerry]

I think I am most disappointed in the Coast Guard's initial stance.

I am sure they were taking the word of BP that there was no leaking whatsoever without getting verification. I found that very hard to believe looking at the scope of the fire. Not to mention it was not extinguished but collapsed. There was an active fire with fresh fuel feeding it. Did they think the pipes and fuel just magically disappeared?

Seemed like the very next day there was an announcement there was a little leak, then a bigger leak, then 2 holes, now 3 holes, now a massive uncontrollable leak. To me, it seemed that when estimates put this at 40 miles by 80 miles (at least two days ago) that more agencies should have gotten involved as well as calling in for some deep sea submersibles and dive teams.

At any rate, it was tragic enough that 11 are still unaccounted for, presumed dead. Perhaps all of this will further entrench the need to contain and minimize. I see Senate hearings on the horizon with perhaps some much more accountability from the oil companies as well as having the needed infrastructure and force capable of handling such disasters. Yes, a well trained and equipped force funded by the oil companies.

---------- Post added at 09:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:15 PM ----------

I have a strange feeling this wasn't an "accident", too - or at least as much of an "accident" that they're telling us (and will tell us).

I am not one to fall into conspiracy theories. But the timing is suspicious and comes in short time following the announcement to explore additional oil fields along the east coast from Virginia down to FL. NC has always been extremely opposed to offshore petro production.

[draggar]

I'm wondering - we've normally released oil slowly from these deposits - this is a massive release of pressure. What might happen? Could it trigger an earthquake with the sudden release of pressure? Ocean floor caving in - maybe even triggering an underwater landslide that could cause a tsunami?

[JuniperPark]

Somebody needs to drop Sarah "drill baby drill" Palin right in the middle of the spill and let her drown it it.

Remember all the speeches about "how safe modern drilling" is, and therefore we need to do a lot more of it? The truth has now been exposed.

[Gerry]

I'm wondering - we've normally released oil slowly from these deposits - this is a massive release of pressure. What might happen? Could it trigger an earthquake with the sudden release of pressure? Ocean floor caving in - maybe even triggering an underwater landslide that could cause a tsunami?

All of that happens on a normal cycle and in nature. But, if I recall correctly, often times water is pumped in to act as an opposing pressure to push it up.

Honestly, I think there is more to worry about what occurs naturally and what is not in our control.

But, it pisses me off when there are things that are under our control we fail to safeguard and take proper precautions. Or, take shortcuts for the sake of a dollar rather than consider the consequences of those shortcuts.

---------- Post added at 10:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:03 PM ----------

Somebody needs to drop Sarah "drill baby drill" Palin right in the middle of the spill...

Her and Rudi, both. I will never forget that spectacle on stage. Yeah, drill-baby-drill was going to solve all our needs. Again, not concerned with the consequences.

[Denny501]

As we all know too well, BP will pay for the cleanup and we all will pay more at the pump.

[Creature]

I'm wondering - we've normally released oil slowly from these deposits - this is a massive release of pressure. What might happen? Could it trigger an earthquake with the sudden release of pressure? Ocean floor caving in - maybe even triggering an underwater landslide that could cause a tsunami?

Don't bother thinking about 'what ifs'. What if you got in a car and in crashed? However, perhaps the designers should have considered, 'what if the pipe breaks?'. I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but this looks a bit like another one! Who will save us this time and what will it cost us? Can we just pay double at the petrol pump to pay for the clear up?

[draggar]

I didn't intend the "earthquake" etc.. comment to sound like a conspiracy theory - just looking at what's going on. I didn't know that water was pumped in to increase the pressure (push the oil out) so there's already an increased amount of pressure inside the deposit. If this keeps going then we shouldn't see anything happen, my concern was what could happen if the amount of pressure drastically decreases.

[Acro]

Time to stock up on fish fillets and shrimp!

[draggar]

Honestly, I don't think this will have a huge effect on the whole industry.

Most of our shrimp comes from Indonesia / Thailand and that area (it all comes in frozen). We also get coldware shrimp from the coasts of New England. Maybe some high end resturants will need to reconsider where they get their shrimp from but your grocerey stores, unless they specifically sell "gulf shrimp" (or similar) - it's not affected by this.

As for fish, yes, there is a lot of fishermen who won't be able to fish in the gulf but - many are from the Pacific northwest (salmon, etc..), Atlantic (cod, haddock) and others liek swordfish, maco, mahi-mahi, tuna are caught in the ocean, too.

Will prices go up? Most likely but because of a surge in demand over a panic, not a large shortage of supply.

[Gerry]

I didn't intend the "earthquake" etc.. comment to sound like a conspiracy theory - just looking at what's going on.

I was not implying anything about the earthquakes, just the event and cause of the explosion.

The idea is one volume replaces another volume exerting the same pressure regardless of viscosity. Any volume in a confined space will exert a pressure.

So much for the physics lesson.

In theory, the idea of a "sink hole" is not out of the question simply because it is on the ocean floor. There is always some tectonic activity. I recall seeing a documentary about methane gas being naturally released off the coast of california in higher quantity and at a greater rate. Literally bubbling up to the surface from fissures. And, there is also a known quantity of unrefined oil also seeping.

---------- Post added at 11:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:26 AM ----------

Most of our shrimp comes from Indonesia / Thailand and that area (it all comes in frozen).

That's precisely the items I do NOT purchase.

I believe there is a law here in NC to require all grocers and sellers of seafood to label the source in terms of country. Everyone here labels the precise origin.

As for other areas, NC is a huge shrimp area. If demand goes up across the entire gulf coast area then I will be paying higher because there is a larger demand for it. Plus, the risk of over fishing.

---------- Post added at 01:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:29 AM ----------

Just heard that the Louisiana National Guard has been activated to be deployed to help with this oil spill, as a State of Emergency exists along the coast of Louisiana. The deployment will involve at least 6000 troops.

Also, the latest reports are that the waves are 4.9 feet meaning the skimmers deployed will not contain the oil in total.

[katherine]

Another sad day for America

[TheLegendaryJP]

Idunno I say in 2 weeks we dont even hear about it.

As for drill baby drill, I hope or its serve baby serve and at a premium....to the enemey!

Also a shut off valve every 500 feet, you do realize it costs $XXXXXX per HOUR to lay lines, stopping every 500 feet is a joke, unless of course you like shrimp so much youd pay 200 a barrel.

Im not say the spill isnt bad for the locals/sea life, what I am saying is the fixes are not easy either. Shit happens, its an accident, a whale died...uncle Joe will finally leave the big easy, welcome to life. You cant have everything.

[Gerry]

Also a shut off valve every 500 feet, you do realize it costs $XXXXXX per HOUR to lay lines, stopping every 500 feet is a joke, unless of course you like shrimp so much youd pay 200 a barrel..

not sure where you are getting the shutoff every 500 feet thing unless you're talking the overland pipeline.

This is one simple piece that is required in other nations but not of US offshore rigs.

The environmental impact this will have will be immeasurable as well as lose in revenue from tourism to the gulf coast beaches.

You must not have ever vacationed along the beautiful white sand beaches of Pensacola to Clearwater area.

[Donald Aquilano]

Barack Obama took his good old time responding to this disaster but the news media is silent about it. I hold him partly responsible for not mobilizing government resources quicker.

[TheLegendaryJP]

I actually spent one month in clearwater during my youth, Ybor city was the night life for us...before meeting my wife

We have to understand that sometimes the sum of zero comes into play. Yes its horrible the oil spilled, yes real concequences will arise but how we react to one problem generally leads to another for someone else.