If you make your living from operating a charter fishing boat in the Gulf of Mexico then you already know the terrible impact that Big Oil’s negligence has had on your business. Charter boat captains make 80% of their money in the busy summer season, making the mass cancellations of booked fishing trips and no new bookings especially hard. Without this income many charter boat operators will be unable to pay their boat loans, home loans and other day to day living expenses, resulting in bankruptcies and foreclosures in an area that has already been hit hard by the current state of the economy.
The collapse of other industries such as tourism and vacation rentals will also have a knock on effect to the charter fishing industry, making it impossible for many charter boat captains to stay in business. And it’s not just the lack of people wanting to go fishing in an oil slick that cause the problem, the massive environmental damage caused by the oil and the chemical dispersants will have an enormous effect on the local fish populations, making the area even more unattractive to visiting anglers.
BP has been actively approaching charter boat operators and offering them insultingly low settlement offers in return for the charter boat operator signing a waiver that removes their right to sue for damages at a later date. Don’t speak to a BP assessor before you have consulted with a qualified lawyer who can advise you of how best to go about seeking the damages to which you are entitled.