Oil Spill Not Likely to Affect Seafood Supply

NEW ORLEANSThe oil spill on Louisianas shoreline will most likely not affect grocery seafood supplies, reports USA Today. They report only about 1 percent of seafood provided in the United States comes from Louisiana, with most of the supply coming from overseas.

Louisianas main seafood products are shrimp, oysters, blue crabs and finfish.

Oyster production is the most likely to be affected, as Louisiana provides 67 percent of the America supply.  The article reports so far, few oyster beds have been closed due to the oil spill. Oil can kill oyster larvae, but mature oysters close up when they taste oil, the article said.

Shrimp is the most popular seafood in America, but only 4 percent comes from Louisiana, with most of it coming from Thailand, Indonesia, Ecuador, China and Vietnam. To save some of Louisianas shrimp stock, state officials allowed fishermen to harvest earlier than normal in hopes they can get to the seafood before the oil. In spring, shrimp larval in Louisiana have not headed out to sea yet; and they may be at risk of death from the oil spill.

While Louisiana proves 23 percent of the U.S.-caught red snapper and 26 percent of the U.S.-caught blue crabs, the article noted generally they can swim away from the spill.

However, the article reported local Louisiana cuisine will be affected.