Oil pollution has replaced overfishing as the major environmental concern facing our oceans, says a well-known commercial fishing captain and author.
With the BP oil well still spewing crude into the Gulf of Mexico, "dangling a hook" seems pretty minor, says Linda Greenlaw.
Click play to hear Soundings' conversation with Greenlaw and see the most recent photos of the oil leak on the Gulf Coast. Mobile users, click here to watch on YouTube.
Greenlaw gained fame as one of the commercial swordfishing captains featured in Sebastian Junger's book "The Perfect Storm" and the 2000 film of the same name. Since then she has written several books and has been featured on the Discovery Channel.
Greenlaw spoke with Soundings while promoting her latest book "Seaworthy: A Swordboat Captain Returns to the Sea" ($25.95, Viking, 2010) at RJ Julia Booksellers in Madison, Conn. The non-fiction hardcover looks at her time swordfishing in Newfoundland's Grand Banks, including a stay in a Canadian jail for drifting across the border.
In this issue
Oil response ‘like the Three Stooges’
A U.S. design on the waters of Ireland
Tom Neale’s ICW Log: Part IV
Loran tower comes tumbling down
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If every boat sitting at the dock bought some 55 gallon garbage cans and a bucket to scoop up the oil, they could go out and pick up thousands of gallons a day.
They should take a hint from the people of Nashville and get to work cleaning up without waiting for somebody to cut them a check.
It seems they would rather curse the darkness than light a candle.
I think that it is ridiculous that most of the focus is on stopping the leak and not so much on clean-up and prevention efforts. This should be simultaneous efforts. Also, it is overwhelming the amount of ropes to get effective material/products into the hands of the response personnel of each county on watch. My company has a viable, if not the best, solution to absorb all forms of hydrocarbons from oil to sheen. ABSORB, not just contain. As I understand it, no one will buy/use the product because it is not on BP's approved list and therefore, expenses will not be reimbursed. It has been approved by the EPA along with other certifications and prior testing being completed. The information has been submitted to BP and is moving through the stages. However, the next stage is testing by BP. ARE YOU KIDDING??? BP and the federal government are highly involved in evaluating and studying and less on reacting. It is proven and accepted by the EPA, what more do they need to know? This can and is perhaps the best solution to protect the critical habitat and industry found in the Apalachicola bay. Franklin county commission is aware of the product, but will not move forward until BP gives the ok. Centek Industries Inc environmental products.