The Fisherman's Wife...a voice from the bayou

Monday, May 25th I took the opportunity to reach out to one of the many people already affected by BP PLC’s oil spill who has made comments on my blog via Facebook.

Our emails became a couple of candid phone calls that have given me insight and a “voice” from within this disaster.

Respecting my new found friend’s fears of corporate retribution--against her husband, the Captain of a 65’ fishing boat currently at sea under contract with BP—I’ve chosen to identify her only as--the fisherman’s wife.

The fisherman’s wife is a native of the bayou with that certain most unmistaken drawl of Louisiana. She’s also a mother who like most American moms is involved with her kids in Little League and school--and like many of my friends whose lives depend on the sea—she’s sturdy and steadfast.

“I just wanna share for a minute, as some of you know I'm taking this crisis with BP and spreading the word to everyone I can. We are all frustrated, saddened, and growing impatient."—the fisherman’s wife

“Frustrated, saddened and growing impatient.” Her words reflect that of everyone on the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida—and with any hopes, in Washington, D.C.

The fisherman’s wife explained to me that after BP’s attempt to get the fishermen to sign “Indemnity and Hold Harmless Waivers” was “thrown out by a Federal judge”, her family’s boat along with those of many others was contracted by the $92 million dollar-a-day earning BP to go deploy oil booms at wages that equal “good money in the off season” to the fishermen.

Unfortunately, May/June in the Gulf of Mexico is not the “off season”.

BP’s DHR Vessels of Opportunity website states “crews on vessels scheduled for day-work will receive eight hours of pay and crews on vessels scheduled to perform nighttime operations will be paid for 12 hours of work. If vessels are scheduled and are not used, the day rate will still be paid.” The website doesn’t give exact figures, but says the daily rates are based on the vessel’s length.

“This is a disaster that is going to do what no hurricane has ever done. The oil spill damage we face is one thing, the lack of interest and nonsupport is another. If I've learned nothing else in the years I've lived here it's that the people of our community are resilient, determined, hardworking, heartfelt people.”—the fisherman’s wife

The shrimpers, crabbers and fishermen of the Parrish all answered the call, as have many others along the Gulf Coast. Only a few of the many were hired.

Two weeks ago, the men gathered the required personal protective gear, fueled and provisioned their boats—with money out of their own pockets—before gathering in a circle on the docks to say a prayer.

They then set off to do battle in the rough oily waters of the Gulf of Mexico in a Hail Mary attempt at saving their fishing grounds, their livelihoods and their neighborhoods.

Those who stayed behind to “hold down the fort” were given BP’s Claims Hotline phone number, BP’s online claims website, and individual claims account numbers to prove they’ve filed.

“It’s like going to the IRS. They don’t make nothing easy. The want proof of everything. How big is your boat? How long have you been fishing? What do you fish for? How much have you earned in the past? What did you expect to earn this year? They make you feel as if you’ve done something wrong for making a claim.”—the fisherman’s wife

Instead of seeing checks, the people of Louisiana have seen organized chaos. One quote from the fisherman’s wife’s Facebook page says that one Captain is “catching hell” in the confusion of working with BP off Grand Isle.

“That will not change! We have a saying called "Cajun ingenuity" and it's time we show it. We need to take charge, complaining is not getting results, we need to step up and do this.”

“We need to show up in our shrimp boots and gloves and start placing boom, we need to walk into our officials offices and TELL, not ask them what we want, we need to demand in person what BP needs to do here, and out there for our fishermen. My heart goes out to each of you and I know we are all praying.”--the fisherman’s wife

The fishermen that live, and work in the Gulf know those waters better than any corporate “suit” yet they’re being restricted on where they can work, what they can do, and how they can do it--and they’ve been silenced from sharing their experiences--being told “not to be within a mile of the media”.

Many in the Parrish have not seen their loved ones since they left. Ship to shore communications with family members have been sparse sparing the occasional cell phone call “when they can get service on the boats”, VHF radio messages relayed via neighbors and for some, satellite phones that are costly to operate.

There’s no way to bring the boats back to port because the hulls are contaminated with oil. BP promised “car wash type deal” that was to be used to decontaminate the vessels at sea, but that has not materialized either, and there’s no telling of what the long term effects of the oil will do to the boat hulls.

“For now we’ve been depending on each other and Kim and David at Mariah Jade Shrimp Company, they’ve made things happen. Kim’s been organizing what BP doesn’t seem to be able to do and David has been helping get groceries, fuel and transportation for the guys that need to come to shore. Her boats and her sons are out there working the oil too. They’ve organized, delivered and continue everyday to get things done.”

"We are voicing our concerns that seem to be in vain. Some of us our concerned about what the oil spill will to to our fishing economy, others our communities,or ecosystem and wildlife. Regardless of whatever our fears and anger is for,we will all be affected."—the fisherman’s wife

“We will all be affected.” Truer words have never been spoken and they’re not in vain, they're those of--the fisherman's wife.