Coastal future can still look bright

After visiting Grand Isle this past week, it’s obvious there are abundant crabs and edible fish along the shoreline. Much like it was before BP struck its oily blow last year.

In other words, there has not been an everlasting effect as some people predicted. In fact, a recent check disclosed that no oil at all was found along the bottom of the sea in the vicinity of the spill.

This good news has indicated that the future can still look bright for our coast that produces most of the commercial fisheries in the nation. But there are other safeguards we must seek to keep this economic benefit healthy . . .

– We must, of course, have drilling requirements that prevent any more such BP occurrences that would repeat the ill effects we felt last year.

– We must stop the killing of our fish along the coast by allowing farmers to deposit fertilizers into the Mississippi River that flow into the Gulf where they produce oxygen-deprived dead zones.

– We must rebuild our coast so we will continue to have land from which to produce this seafood. Diverting water and sediment from the river into our wetlands that are vanishing into open water is the best way to do this.

Candidates seeking election in the state this year should use promises of providing ways to do the above in their platforms and then stick to it if elected. Sure, it’s only one part of the whole picture of economic health for our state but it is the most important.

Louisiana will not be the same if we don’t repair and protect our coast. Though the greatest oil spill in history did not destroy it, there are other factors that have the power to do it if we don’t take action now.

 

About Allen Lottinger 433 Articles
Publisher Emeritus

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