Not to sound all gloom and doom, but let's assume that the

[rzemanfl]

fish populations in the Gulf are so damaged that there will be major restrictions on sport and commercial fishing for several years- either imposed or just a matter of the fish not being there. I don't think that is an unreasonable assumption. My family eats probably 25-30 meals a year of fish that I catch myself wading in the Gulf. When fishing is good I probably give away another 5-10 meals worth to our neighbor. We probably eat locally caught fish 6-10 times a year in restaurants. I am just one old guy in Florida. My question is, has anyone thought about where the replacement protein is going to come from? Soybeans?

[PDJane]

1. with all the toxins in the gulfstream,

understand that we are all likely to be eating a vegetarian diet, possibly mostly vegan.

Does anyone understand how many toxins are in the oil and in the dispersants? This is pretty much a killing blow. If bacteria are spread to eat the toxins, the dead zones will expand; if not, the dead zones will expand because of the petrochemicals.

[Ozymanithrax]

2. First, they will increase the strain on other fisheries to make it up..

...then, well...Americans may no longer have a problem with being overweight.

Expect to see fish farms explode in any region where they can be built.

[Angry Dragon]

3. I think with all the chemical and oil in the Gulf

when the storms hit you will see these chemicals being blown inland and who knows how much farmland will be contaminated.
You might see the Gulf area become a dead zone. Where would these people move to or would they develop illnesses that would put a stain on the medical facilities??

I have a feeling that we will be living with this for at least 2 to 3 generations.

[JDPriestly]

12. This is what I expect!

[Child_Of_Isis]

14. Some won't be able to move.

It takes money. Those with homes may not be able to get anything out of them if they try to sell. Those in that area should start preparing themselves. Stock food, money, water, etc. There is no way to predict what is coming, so prepare for any & everything.

[Angry Dragon]

18. bp should have to pay for any relocation

[Child_Of_Isis]

20. They should, but that doesn't mean they will.

I wouldn't count on them. What if there is an evacuation? Remember during Katrina, how some were evacuated & ended up in different states, some were separated from their families. Some couldn't come home for a long time.

That could very well happen. If there is an evacuation, people need to be prepared to take themselves out if possible. If BP or the government does it, god only knows what will go on.

[Xipe Totec]

4. Hydrolized petroleum

But with 40% methane, you'll need to keep the Beano close by.

[Codeine]

5. I've not eaten fish in like thirty years.

It's not exactly a dietary necessity.

[rzemanfl]

7. No, but protein is, that was my point. n/t

[Codeine]

8. Easily provided by plant sources.

And we all need far less than most of us consume, incidentally.

[Rex]

10. Well maybe you don't eat fish, but billions do everyday.

:eyes:

[flvegan]

16. Yep, and look where it's gotten us.

:eyes:

[The Hope Mobile]

50. Where has eating fish gotten us? Most cultures that eat fish are considered

to be healthier and the people live longer. Fish is considered brain food. You're a vegan, fine, but for many, fish is one of the few consistent sources of protein and for us carnivores its one of the better alternatives. Over-fishing is an issue but that is unrelated to this situation.

[flvegan]

51. It's gotten us

damn close to collapsing ecosystems. But who really cares if the bluefin tuna goes extinct. Enjoy your meal.

[rzemanfl]

11. Someone will have to plant them, that requires land, is it

available? Who will make the investments required? These are the kinds of things we need to be thinking about as this nightmare unfolds.

[Angry Dragon]

13. Monsanto is poised to fill the gap

They have cornered the market in GM plants.

[Catherina]

21. Beat me to it n/t

[Angry Dragon]

23. I am sorry ........ I will try not to let it happen again

I will read and type slower

[Catherina]

27. Lol. You're adorable. Beat me to it all you want my friend n/t

[Codeine]

19. Stop feeding it to your livestock

and you'll have a shit-ton for everybody.

[rzemanfl]

24. You have this omnipotent space-alien writing style . Listen,

I have no livestock, never did and am too old to start now. You can't give me orders and expect me to carry them out on behalf of the nation or the human race. Obama can't do that either, which seems to piss off a lot of folks here.

[Codeine]

26. I know that was supposed to irritate me,

but it was actually a damned funny post. :toast:

[rzemanfl]

29. No, it really wasn't. Just an observation. n/t

[rzemanfl]

46. I thing I just figured out who you are:

[rzemanfl]

48. Think! Not thing....eom

[Codeine]

52. Bazinga! nt

[rzemanfl]

55. Had to google that one. n/t

[Uncle Joe]

34. If tens of millions of people suddenly switch from seafood to plants for their protein,

you can expect those plant sources not to be so easily available, at the very least the cost of plant protein will go up.

This will be compounded if hurricanes transport part of this toxic soup inland contaminating farm land.

[Child_Of_Isis]

6. I think this is another travesty...

Being able to fish is a big thing. Being around that kind of area, there is never a thought that you can go hungry. It's an independence, survivalist sort of thing. Say for instance if the economy totally tanked & there wasn't any money, not much food etc, the people on the gulf wouldn't bat an eye when it came to food. My god, fish, crabs, oysters, bird eggs galore.

I almost bet those days are over.

[RKP5637]

9. Well might be, and so very sad. n/t

[Poboy]

17. Yes, you get it entirely.

There is a food bounty all along the coast. One could conceivably 'live off the land'. There's also crawfish, alligator, frog, and if you're old school cajun, nutria. All of this wildlife will be contaminated.

[depakid]

15. I take that assumption as a given

There will be major pressure on fish stocks elsewhere that risks depletion or collapse.

As to replacement proteins and such, Americans are fortunate in that they have a fine variety of meat substitutes that really are quite good. Can't get most of those products where I live... :-(

[safeinOhio]

22. Move up the the Great Lakes

and hurry before it is too late.

http://www.helium.com/items/1864136-how-the-ultimate-bp...

[rzemanfl]

25. I think you mean "up to" right? Regarding the pending explosion

-I assume there are enough Polish folks in Cleveland that there are numerous ethnic jokes in circulation. I am reminded of the one about the truck driving interview that contains the line "I'd wake up Stosh." If you haven't heard it, let me know and I will go throught the trouble of keying it in.

[bvar22]

44. Aren't the Great Lakes placarded against eating the fish?

I know they are in Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
The maximum consumption of locally caught fish in Minnesota are one per month for healthr Adults.
Zero for pregnant women and small children due to high levels of Heavy Metals, primarily Mercury, and PCBs.

"In Minnesota, mercury is the contaminant in fish that causes the most concern. Air pollution is the major source of mercury that contaminates the fish in Minnesota’s lakes and rivers—see Sources of Mercury Pollution and the Methylmercury Contamination of Fish in Minnesota (PDF: 29KB/2 pages). About 70 percent of the mercury in the air is the result of emissions from coal combustion, mining, incineration of mercury-containing products and other human sources. Over time, fish can accumulate relatively high mercury concentrations. That’s why it’s important to make wise choices about the fish you eat and how often you eat it.

Fish in Lake Superior and major rivers such as the Mississippi River may contain PCBs. These synthetic oils had many uses and are found in electrical transformers, cutting oils, and carbonless paper. Although they were banned in 1976, they do not easily break down and remain in the water and lake sediments for years. PCB levels in Minnesota waters are slowly decreasing.

Residues of toxaphene in lake trout from Lake Superior suggest a potential environmental health problem with this insecticide. Toxaphene, actually a mixture of over 670 chemicals, was banned in 1990, but continues to be a problem in certain areas. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) continues to monitor reports, and will issue consumption advice based on toxaphene, if necessary.

<snip>
All of the Great Lake states, and Ontario, face many of the same problems with mercury and PCB contamination, and all issue fish consumption advisories. However, Lake Superior is the least contaminated of the Great Lakes. Mercury contamination in Wisconsin and Ontario's inland lakes is comparable to that in Minnesota."

More

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/fish/faq.html

[branders seine]

28. it's ....

PEOPLE!

[rzemanfl]

30. "It's a cookbook!" (Just another pop-cultural reference in return

for yours)

[branders seine]

41. "To Serve . . . "

1. Preheat the planet . . .

[KharmaTrain]

31. Farmed Fishing...

Much of the seafood that's on the shelves today come from "farming"...which one would hope would remain protected by those whose livlihoods depend on it and not directly affected by the pollution of the gulf. Or they're raised in other areas.

I'm not a big fish eater...and will miss those Jumbo Shrimps and Clam Chowder but I don't see the Gulf going "dead" like many doom and gloomers are predicting. It may take a few years for nature to fix what man's screwed up (providing we haven't screwed up further).

I know this is herasy to some, but considering all the over fishing that has occured in that region, maybe a little respit will be a good thing in the long run...letting the ecosystem cleanse and fix itself. While this is not good for the fishermen, I see it being a boost to tourism in the years to come.

[rzemanfl]

33. Sure, all those hotels can just lock up, continue to pay their

taxes, utilities, maintenance, etc. and wait for the coming boom in future years...everything will just be fine. :sarcasm:

[KharmaTrain]

36. There's Always Gambling...

The damages to those businesses should and hopefully will be paid by BP. When Katrina hit, Haley Barbour couldn't move fast enough to get those Casinos up and running again...that's all he cares about, and will still be a major tourist attraction for the region oil or no oil. As far as the other areas, what other options do you have? The economy is still in the shitters that is affecting travel all around...methinks tourism would have been down this year just cause people can't afford either the time or the expense.

I recall people in NOLA fearing that the devestation from Katrina would kill tourism in the area for years...it rebounded big time in less than a year. Again...the greed of BP combined with its criminal attempts at a "clean-up" are the root of the problem and they must be held accountable. Shakedown my ass.

[rzemanfl]

37. We could legalize prostitution. There are a lot of good looking

women here. When I first moved here it took a while for it to register that all the slender ladies with big racks had been enhanced.

[KharmaTrain]

40. It's Inevitable...

I'm surprised that other states haven't picked up on Nevada's lead on this one. Sure it's "immoral", but what's that matter when it comes to stuffing the pockets of politicians. Dare we say it's already a booming business in some areas already.

Cheers...

[glitch]

43. There is no respite in a toxic stew. nt

[NNN0LHI]

32. I eat farm raised catfish several times a year. I recommend it

Those farms are probably ramping up production capacity.

And if you never tried lake perch there ain't nothing better. At least the ones we get around here are.

Don

[fascisthunter]

35. and don't forget about acid rain

that will fall over the South East from this LEAK. That will impact all produce from that region.

[BeFree]

38. The good news is

As sea levels rise new marshlands will be created.

The extra heat in the oceans will help decay the oil. And the decomposing oil will 'fertilize' the new marshes.

The earth around the gulf will be fine in hundreds of years.
It's only humans that will be Scrude forever.

Why do the BP apologists hate humans?

[bahrbearian]

39. We will be eating Microbes

[rzemanfl]

45. Or they, us. n/t

[TexasObserver]

42. I think it will mean more demand for farm bred fish and crustaceans.

Crawfish should see a huge demand, since it allows Louisianans and others to retain some of their important marine animal dishes.

Fresh water fishes will have to take up some of the slack.

[Liberal_in_LA]

47. textured vegetable protein

[rzemanfl]

49. Who will grow it? Who will texture it? Is the infrastructure in place?

How long will it take to gear up?

[OwnedByFerrets]

53. The killing off of our Gulf will be much more devastating

than the loss of protein.

[rzemanfl]

54. True, but things have unintended consequences. The Dust

Bowl of the 1930's is directly related to the agricultural economic conditions created by World War I.