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After the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Financial and Health Concerns Among Coastal Residents and Commercial Fishers

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Abstract

The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill is recognized as the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history. In this article, we examine the impact of the BP oil spill on directly affected commercial fishers and indirectly affected residents of the greater New Orleans metropolitan area. A sample of 148 participants responded to an open-ended question on the impact of the oil spill on self, family, and their community at least 12 months after the oil spill began. Content analysis of their narrative text yielded four emergent themes which we present here: 1) Economic Impact on the Seafood Industry and Local Businesses; 2) Commercial Fishers’ Financial Future; 3) BP’s Response: “Making it Right” or Making it Worse?; and 4) Lingering Worries and Fears: Threats to Fishers’ Health and Lifestyle. Implications of these findings for individuals and families exposed to a decade of natural and technological disasters are considered.

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Notes

  1. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, one barrel of oil is 42 fluid gallons. See: http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=327&t=9 (Retrieved 02/20/2015).

  2. Any participant names, or names/initials that participants referenced have been replaced with pseudonyms in this article.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to George Barisich, President of the United Commercial Fishermen’s Association, for his help with recruitment and Frank Campo of Campo’s Marina in Yscloskey (southeastern St. Bernard) for providing space for interviews. We thank Ashley Cacamo, Annie Crapanzano, and Benjamin Staab for assistance with data collection and Sr. Mary Keefe, Robert Campo, Lauren Denley, Huey Gonzales, Charlie Robin, John Tesvich, and Eva Vujnovich for their contributions to the research effort.

This research was supported by grants from the BP Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, Office of Research and Economic Development, Louisiana State University. This support is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803-5501, USA

    Katie E. Cherry, Bethany A. Lyon, Pam F. Nezat, Rachel Adamek, S. Devon Walsh, Kristina B. Fitzgerald, Dina R. Anbinder & Claire V. Bernacchio

  2. Brigham Young University, School of Family Life, Provo, Utah, 84602, USA

    Loren D. Marks

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  1. Katie E. Cherry
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  2. Bethany A. Lyon
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  9. Claire V. Bernacchio
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Correspondence to Katie E. Cherry.

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Cherry, K.E., Lyon, B.A., Marks, L.D. et al. After the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Financial and Health Concerns Among Coastal Residents and Commercial Fishers. Curr Psychol 34, 576–586 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-015-9372-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-015-9372-4

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