Fishing industry and the Bonnet Carre Spillway

While the closure process has now begun on the Bonnet Carre Spillway, we can expect the effects to last because of how long the spillway was open.

The fishing industry has been hit hard, due to the fresh water the spillway has been releasing into the Mississippi Sound, making the water inhabitable for marine life.

Before the beginning of the closures, News 25 caught up with fishermen who expressed their frustrations.

Crab fisher Kevin Black says he’s been traveling an extra 45 miles to find good crabs and the miles are wearing on him and his wallet. “I have never had to fish this far out. Never. I have been fishing my entire life. You know, you invest everything, your whole life into doing something you love and it just feels like they have cinder blocks tied to your feet when you wake up in the morning.”

Fisherman Ronnie Daniels said, “We have a seen a lot here on the Coast and the Coast is very resilient. Our fishermen are very resilient, but this is unlike anything we have ever seen.”

This partial closure is a good sign, but it will take some time before these fishermen will see normal waters again.