Every year, residents of the Gulf come to Morgan City, Louisiana to celebrate the lifeblood of the region’s economy: seafood and oil. This September marks the 75th anniversary of this symbiotic relationship. The Shrimp and Petroleum Festival emphasizes “the unique way in which these two seemingly different industries work hand-in-hand culturally and environmentally in this area of the ‘Cajun Coast’.” One might think the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent oil spill would significantly mar this relationship, and the seafood industry would vociferously support President Obama’s offshore drilling moratorium. But the reality is just the opposite is true; the spill has strengthened the bond between the oil and seafood industry and the shrimpers and fishers have been as vocal as anyone in lifting the offshore drilling ban.
Without any scientific or technological basis for banning offshore drilling, it is senseless policy that is pouring salt into the economic wounds of the Gulf. Peter Vujnovich, a third generation oyster farmer and owner of Captain Pete’s Oysters said, “Even though the oil industry and the seafood industry have conflicts, we need each other. I use a tremendous amount of fuel in my (seafood) farming operations and it seems senseless at this time when the economy is down and jobs are at stake to shut down such a major part of Louisiana’s income and job opportunities.”
The moratorium will not just affect the thousands of workers on the rigs, but the indirect effects will ripple throughout the Gulf’s economy, destroying hundreds of thousands of jobs. And it’s not just a six-month moratorium. 4 rigs have already left and others are ready to go. When the rigs leave, if they enter into multi-year contracts, a six month moratorium really becomes a six year moratorium.
The seafood industry wants the oil stopped and cleaned up but the offshore drilling ban has caused another problem for the Gulf to address. Although a federal judge issued an injunction that blocked the White House’s offshore drilling ban, and an appeals court today upheld that injuction, the federal government seeks to continue pressing this devastating policy–which in itself creates a de facto ban due to industry uncertainty. The Obama administration needs to publicly lift the drilling ban to assure the Gulf some certainty in allowing the oil industry to drill, restore economic activity, and allow the seafood industry to return to their way of life.
Our Live from the Gulf series is brought to you by our team of energy, environment, homeland security and response experts:
James Carafano: Deputy Director, The Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies and Director, Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies
Jack Spencer: Policy Director, Energy and Environment, Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies
Nick Loris: Research Assistant, Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies
Rory Cooper: Director of Strategic Communications
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NEEDLESS BAN!
cruel and inhumane decisions on civilization! to threaten a person's life used to be against the law! WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS?? arrests need to be made!
President Obama is an idiot in every sense of the word. Not only is he shuting down a billion dollar industry he isn't getting any tax revenue from the industry in that region or from the people he is laying off. Note; major idiot! Joel
A fedreal court issued an injunction against the moratorium. The administration appeals the decision to a higher court. A three judge panel confirms the lower court ruling. Does the administration care? Nope–they do what they want with no consequences. Always espousing the "rule of law" they could care about the law if it does not satisfy their agenda. One of the first things that Barack Obama did after receiving the Democratic nomination for president was to ERASE the American flag off his campaign plane and replace it with his personal Obama flag. For me, that one action told me all I had to know about the direction he would try to take this country. And he is succeeding. I wish November was tomorrow. It is our only hope.
Midas turned everything he touched to Gold, BHO turns everything he touches into a disaster. Throughout history there have been bad Pres. and even good ones made bad decisions and got bad advice, this one takes the cake. He appointed people without knowledge of the positions they hold and he himself has no experiance. It sure shows in all that has happened in the last year and a half. WE THE PEOPLE can correct this if we hold our ground and VOTE Nov.2,2010 .
Evil is as evil does.
Over and over again I read comments by those that still don't understand just who and what is Obama. He is not incompetent, He is not out of touch. He is not
naive. He is not an "idiot". He is devious, calculating, and extreamly intelligent.
His actions, or non-actions, are deliberate to force his socialist agenda.
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Lloyd, we do understand. When government stupidity is addressed, we have to comment accordingly, for government members ignorance sake.
Even the 7th District Federal Court and now the 5th District Federal Court have told Obama that he has not the power nor the authority to stop the drilling.
The self centered idiot will not listen.
Seems the insensitivity of the current administration, is pointedly a political one in that " green growing" is more important than allowing the situation to be taken care of in a more expedicious way.
Why not take care of our own concerns and the concerns of the majority, rather than pander to the minority?
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You're talking through your hat.