Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Lost Business Attorney

Louisiana Shrimp & Crab Fishing Loss Lawyer

Oil from the Transocean Horizon BP massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was coming ashore, threatening Louisiana’s wildlife, including shrimpers, fishermen, commercial fishermen, crab fishermen, seafood workers and other businesses who have suffered lost profits or income from the oil spill. Government officials indicate that the Transocean Horizon BP Offshore site continues to spill about 5,000 barrels or 200,000 gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico every day. At that rate, the spill may become the worst oil spill in U.S. history. It could take up to three months to drill a relief well, which would plug the leaks. Congress has identified 5 reasons for the BP Transocean Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and oil spill.

According to news reports, concerns about the supply of shrimp, oysters, crabs and other types of seafood are already creating an increase in price. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries briefly opened an emergency shrimping season to allow shrimpers to catch as much as they could before the waters were affected by the oil spill. Louisiana’s commercial fish industries sell about $1.8 billion dollars of product each year. The Gulf of Mexico accounts for 40% of the seafood that is caught in the United States, outside of Alaska, with species, such as shrimp, crabs, menhaden, and other gamefish. The Louisiana shrimp harvest generates about $962 million dollars in annual retail sales. As a result of the spill, fewer fishermen want to go to Venice and the areas along the Mississippi rivers. Saltwater sport fishing generates about $757 million dollars in annual economic impact in Louisiana and sustains more than 7,700 jobs. The fragile marshland is prime habitat for all types of seafood.

A federal law known as the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“OPA”) provides that those who are responsible for discharge of oil must pay not only the removal costs, but also damages for lost profits or impairment of earning capacity due to the injury, destruction or loss of real property, personal property or natural resources.

If you or your business suffered lost profits or lost money or income as a result of the Transocean Horizon BP oil spill, you may have a claim for damages. Contact the attorneys at Bohrer Law Firm, L.L.C. at 225-925-LAWS (5297) or 1-800-876-3911 for a free confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights.