Letter to Mr. Robert Dudley Chief Managing Director BP

Letter

Dear Mr. Dudley:

We write in support of the seafood safety plan submitted by the State of Louisiana on May 29, 2010. We understand that this plan has broad support from the Louisiana fishing community and restaurants from across the state.

Coastal Louisiana is comprised of a unique estuary that is the top source of domestic seafood in the continental United States and is responsible for 70 percent of the commercial seafood from the Gulf of Mexico. This area produces more shrimp, oysters, blue crabs and many finfish than anywhere else in the nation. Recreational and commercial fishermen test their skills in Louisiana's coastal waters millions of times annually - generating billions of dollars in economic activity.

Louisiana is also known as the nation's cuisine capitol. Some of the country's top chefs exercise their culinary skills in south Louisiana using the fresh seafood from coastal Louisiana. The seafood contributes to New Orleans being one of the top tourist destinations in the nation. The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill has called into question the future of the fisheries, fishermen, processors, restaurants, hotels, marinas and other industries that rely upon commercial and recreation fishing in Louisiana.

On May 29th the State of Louisiana proposed a seafood safety and marketing plan to help restore the confidence in our fishery. The plan was developed by the Departments of Wildlife and Fisheries, Environmental Quality, Economic Development, Health and Hospitals and the Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry. It calls for seafood tissue sampling, quality certification and a marketing program to help reestablish the high demand for our fresh seafood and to being restoring our coastal communities.

Recent reports have indicated that BP has spent nearly $100 million on a media campaign to restore the company's reputation and credibility, while spending nothing on restoring the livelihoods of our fisheries, fishermen, their families and those that depend upon Louisiana's seafood. BP's media campaign notes that the company "has not denied any claims". Not responding to the May 29th request to restore the confidence in our fisheries, fishermen, processors and restaurants for over three months is an implicit denial.

While we appreciate BP's use of the Vessel of Opportunity Program to employ local fishermen and the Coast Guard's recent decision to preference local fishermen over out of state contractors for continued spill response and transition work, this does not provide a long-term, sustainable path for our fishermen and excludes many others that rely upon Louisiana seafood.

We strongly urge you to immediately approve the seafood safety plan submitted by the State of Louisiana and endorsed by the fishing community and restaurants in the state.

Sincerely,

Mary Landrieu
US Senator

David Vitter
US Senator

Rodney Alexander
US Representative

Charlie Melancon
US Representative

Charles W. Boustany
US Representative

Steve Scalise
US Representative

Anh "Joseph" Cao
US Representative

Bill Cassidy
US Representative