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Thousands of tons of waste were washed into coastal waters when the Hurricane Katrina storm surge retreated, and it's estimated that 7 million gallons of oil spilled in Louisiana alone. Yet environmental regulatory and health officials in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama have now put out a press release saying the seafood is fine—except for consumption advisories put into place before the hurricane. Bodies and body parts are still being recovered from the Mississippi Sound. The water in many areas smells bad, there are still many sewer leaks and malfunctioning sewage-treatment plants, the water is full of garbage, and the toxic contamination just from the destruction of 100,000 homes and apartments in the region would be reason enough for concern about the pollution's impact on seafood. The hurricane also stirred up bacteria and pollution-laden sediments on lakes, bayous, and bay bottoms throughout the region. Katrina's leftovers I saw someone cleaning a fish at the Ocean Springs harbor the other day, which still has sunken boats in the water leaking fluids and a large number of other boats tossed onshore. I thought about all the trash and oil sheens I had seen in the water, and shuddered to think about someone eating that fish. The press release actually says even if the fish have bacteria in them, it is okay to eat them if they are cooked thoroughly! The marine life in Gulf Coast waters took a major hit with the hurricane. There were many fish kills. Even if it was safe to eat Coast seafood now, wouldn’t it be a good idea to let the fish stocks recover? Becky Gillette is co-chair of the Mississippi Chapter Sierra Club Back to Notes from the Gulf main page. Have your own story from the Gulf Coast? Contact us. Photo: Becky Gillette/Sierra Club collection; all rights reserved. Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club