At daybreak, I eased my way to the pier just to calm the brain after yet another sleep-interrupted night. Mr. PJ (the old dog) has some serious problems that seem to be worse at night. I deal with it the best I can but there are times that I have to escape. The pier is the one place that I can find solace. This morning, however, that peacefulness was just a facade for what the water truly hides. Beneath those calm waters, hides a misery for so many folks here on the Coast. With the recent opening of the Bonnet Carre spillways (second opening this year which is unprecedented), things are bad...really bad for the waters.
The fresh/flood waters from the north brings a lot of problems for those down south. It is those chemical laden waters that have created a near death situation for the Gulf of Mexico. While the spillways are meant to protect, they are, in a sense, the root of the problem. Farm runoff and lower salinity equals dead marine life, algae blooms and flesh-eating bacteria. The fishermen whose lives depend on a healthy Gulf, have taken a cruel blow. The waters are unsafe. The seafood is unsafe. The beaches are unsafe. What was meant to protect has done just the opposite.
My calm waters of the Bayou hide a troubling secret. What I intended to refresh the soul has done nothing more than cause a troubled mind. When will this ever end???
With the way things look at the moment, the Gulf of Mexico has received another slap in the face. Just nine years ago, we had to endure the oil spill that, not only killed off so many marine creatures, it also killed off so many lifelines of the Coastal families. We are a seafood based industry down here. Fishing is a way life. The shrimpers, oystermen, fishermen, crabbers, seafood factories, charterboat captains...you name it...were all out of jobs. Their boats and gear lay idle while the oil killed most everything within its reach. Many lost their boats. Others lost their homes. All lost their way of life. It was a hard time for the Coast. It was years before things began to return to any semblance of normality. Finally, the seafood returned and was deemed fit to eat. It took years after that for the industry to return to its profitable self but many folks had already moved on to be able to support their families.
Now, the Gulf of Mexico faces another tempest. While all Coastians are ready and eager to help those in the flooded zones of the country, opening the spillways has, once again, created a mess for the fishermen. The marine creatures are dying at a great rate. Countless dead dolphins, sea turtles and fish are washing ashore. Entire oyster reefs have died. Crabs have literally suffocated. Shorebirds are not to be found. Schools of fish and shrimp have moved further out in an attempt to escape the water pouring into the Gulf. Many folks do not seem to see the harm in what has been done. "It is just fresh river water so it cannot be doing any harm." is said over and over again. Sorry, that fresh river water wreaks havoc on saltwater marine life. They do not have time to acclimate before it kills them. That "fresh" river water is also polluted from runoff. Whatever has been flooded up north of us has now spilled into the Gulf. Fertilizer, sewage, any number of chemicals and...yes...oil is making a mess down here.
Don't get me wrong. We are not blaming anyone. We are not pointing fingers. We are not begrudging those who are trying to save their places and livelihoods that are flooded. We understand THAT whole scenario as we are subjected to hurricanes that flood our area and we are sympathetic to those that are suffering. We understand that something had to be done to provide some relief. However, there has to be another answer. Opening the spillways has done nothing but spread the devastation to another area.
All of that said, the fishermen down here are working frenetically to catch what they can before the waters get any worse. The boats are going out further to make catches of "clean" shrimp and fish. (The crabbers and oystermen do not have that option.) This plan is working as far as catches but puts a new strain on the fishermen. Fuel prices, boat upkeep and extra time spent are making it a struggle to "stay afloat". The fact stands that the wages they earn has not kept up with the current state of affairs. Many cannot afford to keep running as their expense outweigh their profits. It is a sad situation.
Mark and I were able to get shrimp today from one of our longtime suppliers. This shrimper had to go outside of the "dirty" zone to get a good catch. The shrimp are beautiful and we are thankful he made the decision to keep trying. It is our plan to buy as many pounds of shrimp as we can to help those struggling. We have been there and done that ourselves. It is also our plan to stock up on the seafood so that, if worse comes to worse, we will have a good supply on hand to ride us over until the Gulf cleanses itself. Our freezers will be filled to capacity within the next few weeks. To those in the flooded zones and to those struggling with the situation in the Gulf, we hope and pray that this is soon over for all of us. To those with the ability to help any in need, please do. There are so many out there that have been affected that need help. We are all in this together.
Yesterday was Mark's birthday so he spent the entire day doing what he likes best...fishing! It was perfect! Bait was easy to catch as the Bay was full of menhaden and little mullet. That is all it took for us to get "fishin' fever"! His first throw of the net caught dozens of the nice sized menhaden and a few tiny mullet. The hooks were baited and cast out into the water. Then we waited. It was just a few moments before Mark hooked a nice redfish. That began the perfect fishing day.
Catching the menhaden and little mullet to use as bait is an art in itself. Throwing the net takes skill and a good bit of dexterity. Folks who grew up here can throw "perfect circles" which is a term to describe perfect form. If a fisherman (or fisherwoman!) has a good net, good luck and a lot of proficiency in throwing that net, he (or she) can usually catch enough fish for supper or, at least, enough bait to catch fish on the rod and reel. Mark has been tossing that net since he was a kid so he knows his stuff! His aim always provides our bait.
That old adage "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day but teach him to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime." rings true here on the Coast. Many fishermen and fisherwomen can trace back their fishing occupations for several generations. Those who do not fish for a living still enjoy fishing for pleasure. Some say it is in our blood. I think that may be true.
