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In a city renowned for one of America's most distinct and vibrant food cultures, a way of life is in danger: One by one, New Orleans restaurants are beginning to drop oysters from their menus, and it's not a matter of food safety.
"I wish we could change people's perception about our seafood," Gerald Amato, owner of Mother's Restaurant lamented this morning. "We had one customer say the catfish tasted oily. Catfish is pond-raised! It's just perception," he stressed. "Seafood has never been tested more than it is now and we can't sell it if it's not safe."
It comes down to supply. Amato pointed to an empty pan in the kitchen next to another heaped with pink Gulf shrimp. "That's where the oysters would go. We're supposed to get a shipment in tomorrow," Amato said. His oysters are supplied from P&J Oyster Company, the longest running oyster house in America, who earlier this summer was forced to lay off the majority of its shuckers due to supply shortages for the first time in 134 years.
Ironically, the largest threat to Gulf oysters is not the oil seepage from Deepwater Horizon, but freshwater pouring into the marshes from the Mississippi River. In attempt to keep the oil at bay, the state opened the river's waterways earlier this spring resulting in a salinity imbalance crucial to the development of oyster shells.
"The ecology of the Gulf waters is perfect for oysters," Sal Sunseri, co-owner of P&J Oyster Company said. "The brackish water makes it one of the most perfect oyster growing places in the world."
As the Mississippi's waters pour into this near perfect oyster growing environment, millions if not billions of oysters are being killed. "This is the largest oyster kill Louisiana state has ever seen," said Wilbert Collins, an oyster farmer for 60 years along the Gulf. "I've lost a thousand acres so far."
BP is currently employing Collins and his family dredging oil with their boats, but they have no idea if they'll ever farm their oyster beds again. "We don't know if we'll be paid for our oysters, and if they don't close the dispersal, they might never grow again."
Today at Liuzza's By the Track, a Mid-City neighborhood institution, a kind-faced waitress took orders. "Just a couple of things. First and sadly, we don't have oysters. Second, anything with shrimp is two dollars extra. We just had to raise prices." Liuzza's shrimp po' boy was just as stuffed and succulent as any of New Orleans' crusty, drippy sandwiches, but the absence of its bivalve counterpart is glaring and ever-growing.
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8-01-2010 @8:33AM Tom said... I am not a fan of BP or any other big oil company. They are churning out $Bs in profits while gasoline prices continue to rise.
But, I don't believe BP should be financially responsible for this particular oyster crisis.
According to this article, the state of Louisiana is responsible for the oyster problem.
It increased the flow of fresh water into the Gulf and upset the ecosystem.
Was it done just to protect the aesthetics around New Orleans?
Was it done to protect other ecosystems?
Unfortunately, this article's author did not research and explain the rationale.
But, the results are devastating.
The powers that be in New Orleans and the State of Louisiana greatly exacerbated the damage of hurricane Katrina.
I guess they did not learn from past mistakes.
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8-01-2010 @12:20PM King David said... The part of your comment that you mentioned "I don't think" is the most valuable part of your whole stupid statement!!! The State of Louisiana opened the waters in order to DEFEND ITSELF from the pending doom of the oil spill!!! Learn to read. No, better yet, LEARN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS WRITTEN!!
8-01-2010 @1:15PM Tom said... To King David:
Just by your screen name, you seem to value yourself and your opinion very highly.
Instead of calling my comments stupid and telling me to learn to read and understand what is written, perhaps you should go back to 6th grade English class to learn to read and what is written, and how to understand it..
Where in my comment did I write "I don't think"?
That was a point of your criticism that has no basis.
The "pending doom" that you cited is a myth in your nightly wet dreams.
There was no doom headed to Louisiana.
And..., to call the BP incident a "spill", as you did, is about as stupid as anyone can be.
It was not a spill. It was a release from a well blowout.
You obviously have no clue and have never seen drilling operations.
Where do you live?
New Jersey or California?
How old are you?
12?
8-01-2010 @1:59PM Rich said... Obama for offshore drilling in Brazil
This is a perfect example why many refrain from watching the news on ABC, NBC, CBS, or MSNBC.
Today on a segment of the "Glen Beck Show" on FOX (Fox Cable News) was the following:
"Today, even though President Obama is against off shore drilling for our country, he signed an executive order to loan 2 Billion of our taxpayers dollars to a Brazilian Oil Exploration Company (which is the 8th largest company in the entire world) to drill for oil off the coast of Brazil ! The oil that comes from this operation is for the sole purpose and use of China and NOT THE USA ! Now here's the real clincher...the Chinese government is under contract to purchase all the oil that this oil field will produce, which is hundreds of millions of barrels of oil"..
We have absolutely no gain from this transaction whatsoever!
Wait, it gets more interesting.
Guess who is the largest individual stockholder of this Brazilian Oil Company and who would benefit most from this? It is American BILLIONAIRE, George Soros, who was one of President Obama's most generous financial supporter during his campaign.
If you are able to connect the dots and follow the money, you are probably as upset as I am. Not a word of this transaction was broadcast on any of the other news networks!
Forward this factual e-mail to others who care about this country and where it is going. Also, let all of your Government representatives know how you feel about this.
Below is the Wall street Journal article to confirm this. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203863204574346610120524166.html
8-01-2010 @9:01AM K-Dog said... I truly wish this story were investigated to the next level.... "the state opened the river's waterways"?.... Exactly who in the state of Louisiana authorized this response without understanding the devestation of their actions? This state mystery person is should be called out and perhaps even fired for this wreckless behavior!
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8-01-2010 @9:44AM drew lampkin III said... It's devAstation. There are always unanticipated side-effects of actions humans take to modify nature, from mudslides & wildfires to drilling for oil. It's the end of the world as we know it. Seven billion humans, and increasing 10 to 15 % each decade. The earth cannot sustain both our growth and a healthy bios[here. We are going to end up in a world of rats, pigeons, and roaches. We are headed for an ecological catastrophe that will make ALL past human history pale in comparison. Fire, famine, flood, disease, fights with your neighbor over the simplest things, like potable water. Hold onto your panties.
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8-01-2010 @11:24AM Hugh Jassol said... The Sky Is Falling! The Sky Is Falling! - Thanks, Drew.
8-01-2010 @11:49AM al said... Right on Drew, It is all coming to an end Soon..Food will be worth more than money...Food will get you through days of no money, Better than money with days of no food....Better learn to grow...People
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8-01-2010 @11:48AM Jim said... The reason for the lack of oysters is the fresh water flooded to keep the oil away. Therefore oil is the reason for the oyster shortage. Duh!!!!!!!!!!!
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8-01-2010 @1:06PM Bill W said... Not the first time this has happened.
After the initial die off of oysters, the nutriant rich water makes for following years of very good oystering with very plump oysters. But expect the complaint then to be that they are too plentiful and the oystermen can't get a good price for them.
By the way, why are you trying to eat oysters in August.? Oysters spawn in the warm months - the ones without an R. Oysters "R" in season,but not in May, June, July, and August.
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8-01-2010 @1:31PM rjeabz said... The Government? I will bet that the Louisiana State Government is directly behind the error with the Mississippi fresh water surge. They are quiet now but could be heard, loud and clear, how the Federal governement just was not doing the job. Sounds a lot like Bobby Jindall. Now, they would want to let the blame for no oysters fall away from them. Speak up and tell the World what you caused by your superior knowledge of ecology! Another great job by critics.
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8-01-2010 @5:01PM Dusty 754 said... 8-01-2010 @1:59PM Rich said... Obama for offshore drilling in Brazil
This is a perfect example why many refrain from watching the news on ABC, NBC, CBS, or MSNBC.
Today on a segment of the "Glen Beck Show" on FOX (Fox Cable News) was the following:
"Today, even though President Obama is against off shore drilling for our country, he signed an executive order to loan 2 Billion of our taxpayers dollars to a Brazilian Oil Exploration Company (which is the 8th largest company in the entire world) to drill for oil off the coast of Brazil ! The oil that comes from this operation is for the sole purpose and use of China and NOT THE USA ! Now here's the real clincher...the Chinese government is under contract to purchase all the oil that this oil field will produce, which is hundreds of millions of barrels of oil"..
We have absolutely no gain from this transaction whatsoever!
Wait, it gets more interesting.
Guess who is the largest individual stockholder of this Brazilian Oil Company and who would benefit most from this? It is American BILLIONAIRE, George Soros, who was one of President Obama's most generous financial supporter during his campaign.
If you are able to connect the dots and follow the money, you are probably as upset as I am. Not a word of this transaction was broadcast on any of the other news networks!
Forward this factual e-mail to others who care about this country and where it is going. Also, let all of your Government representatives know how you feel about this.
So what is your problem? It is a LOAN. They are not getting free money. It has to be paid back. Geez look at the money we give Israel. As for drilling. The problem with Americans is they WANT the oil but they DONT WANT the derricks in their back yard, nor do they want the refineries in their back yard. The US could even develop the technology where the need for oil is practically non-exitstent but Americans would bitch about the wind farms or the solar farms near their homes. Just like the ones that purchases homes near an Air Force Base and bitch about the noise from the aircraft or the ones that purchase homes near a railroad and bitch about the locomotives having to sound their horn at the grade crossings.
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8-01-2010 @5:08PM Dusty 754 said... Jim said... The reason for the lack of oysters is the fresh water flooded to keep the oil away. Therefore oil is the reason for the oyster shortage. Duh!!!!!!!!!!!
No. The reason is fresh water. The oil has nothing to do with it. They could keep the flood gates upstream shut and let the oil flow to their shore. This would have no effect on the oysters. It is the fresh water that is killing the oysters, not the oil. Can't compare apples and oranges.
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8-02-2010 @3:30AM bellagrlxitalia@aol.com said... i think its very sad what is happening to us all. I read BP is based in britain is it even a US company? Im sure the waterway was opened to avoid oil contamination.. but how good of a remedy is it if it upsets the ecosystem? how much more can LA take?
I think maybe obama is making that deal kuz we owe china so much money for one thing. I dont understand the politics of that whole thing. but china is bad i really wish we had no ties with them. theyre the biggest polluters on the planet with a huge population and they import poison to us in the USA and we cant sell our american products because their stuff is cheaper and crap. :-( its a sad state of affairs.
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9-09-2010 @1:41PM Kam Shows said... Like Gerald Amato (owner of Mother's Restaurant) said, it is all about the perception. Even though many of the area's seafood is safe, people assume the worst. The New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau is working Amato and other to get the facts out in an effort to change perceptions. Check out this video featuring Amato, Chef John Besh and Edgar Chase, IV
talk about the safety of the seafood used in their authentic NOLA cuisine - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b8IZLl0LAg
Seafood monitoring, testing and precise origin tracking has made seafood safer than ever to enjoy! Visit www.thisjustinneworleans.com for NOLA news and information.
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