Oil Spill Off Gulf Coast Threatens Oklahoma Seafood Market

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- About 200,000 gallons of oil are spilling into the Gulf Coast every day. The oil slick has created serious concerns for the seafood industry, and the spill has come at the beginning of shrimping season off the Gulf.

Ron Watkins, who owns Avalon Seafood in Oklahoma City, said the slick has caused some sleepless nights. Watkins said he expects the spill of affect his business.

"Since shrimp is one of our big sellers. It could be pretty damaging financially," Watkins said.

Avalon Seafood gets nearly 100 percent of it's shrimp from the Gulf Coast, but shrimp is not the only product Watkins is concerned about.

"A lot of the fish we get from that area is going to either be not available or the price is going to be sky high," Watkins said.

He said his business also gets oysters, blue crab, and crawfish from Louisiana, and customers need to be prepared for sticker shock.

"Items that come from the Gulf are about to get crazy. We're going to lose money because we're not going to be able to mark it up as much as it should be. Otherwise people won't buy," Watkins said.

Avalon Seafood has loyal customers who plan on stomaching the sticker shock for their seafood. Kim Sheppard is one such customer, but said she knows there will be plenty others who will make a different choice.

"For people that are not big seafood eaters, they'll probably say we'll eat beef or chicken for now until prices come back down," Sheppard said.

Watkins worries if crews can't contain the spill more successfully, supply could be an issue for the long term.

"If it actually damages the larval beds of the shrimp, I mean it could wipe out an industry. It's not just going to be this year. It's going to be four, five, six years before they ever begin to recover," Watkins said.

Watkins said his concern for keeping his shrimp supply is big enough that he is considering a trip to Louisiana over the weekend to stock up on frozen shrimp from suppliers along the Gulf Coast.