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Tourism and the commercial seafood and charter fishing industries are vital to the economy of southern Mississippi and the Mississippi Delta. The commercial seafood and charter boat industries have been for all intents and purposes closed down indefinitely due to the pollution and damage the oil is doing to the once fertile waters off the coast of Mississippi. Hotels, bed and breakfasts and all other tourism related businesses that rely on the tourist trade and the tourists coming to the sandy beaches for the summer are instead finding cancellation after cancellation as the oil washes up on the shores and washes away their hopes and dreams. The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon and the subsequent oil spill has already had a devastating effect on the economy of Mississippi and the oil has only just begun reaching its shores. Heavy winds and high seas from Hurricane Alex have drastically increased the oil washing up on Mississippi’s beaches and shores, with very little relief in sight.
The Mississippi Delta is made up of several hundreds of miles of shoreline-beaches, barrier islands, marshes, bays, and estuaries-that are environmentally fragile and are being devastated by the oil threatening its coastline. But there are only 100 miles of protective booms available to the entire Gulf Coast. Tourism and fishing are vital to the economy of southern Mississippi. Beaches are now being closed and most of the federal waters off of Mississippi’s coast are now closed to fishing as the oil continues to wash up on its shores.
A recent study of the economic impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill by the University of Southern Mississippi estimates revenue losses of almost 120 million dollars in coastal communities of Mississippi for the months of May-August, 2010 alone. The vital tourism industry has been decimated by beach and fishery closings as charter boats, hotels, restaurants, and retail shops are all feeling revenue losses of up to 50% over the same time period last year. Seafood retailers and restaurants are feeling a particular hardship, as revenue has dropped and prices for local seafood have risen 30%.
There is no way to predict how long the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill will continue to impact the communities of the Mississippi Coast. Estimates on cleanup-and even on the amount of oil currently leaking- are many and varied. However, most experts agree that it could take years to restore the coastal areas to their pre-spill conditions.
A Mississippilawyer with experience in oil spills, environmental law, personal injury, disaster litigation or maritime law can help people in Mississippi who have been negatively impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. If you live in coastal Mississippi and have suffered a financial hardship, illness, or property damage as a result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, you most likely are entitled to compensation from one or more of the responsible parties. A qualified attorney can guide you through the complicated process of filing a claim to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact a qualified oil spill lawyer today.