|
|
|
Chicago, IL —
As oil in the Gulf seems to be under control, shrimpers are wondering what might happen if consumers don't believe that what they're catching is safe to eat.
Today's a big day in the Gulf. It marks the first day since the oil spill disaster that shrimpers will be able to travel the waters for commercial reason. However, federal waters are still closed.
The big question has to do with oil-contaminated shrimp and some are concerned about what might happen if shrimpers try to sell those shrimp. Shrimpers in this MSNBC story say it's not worth it for shrimpers to do such a thing.
Today in Louisiana, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will meet with fisherman and representatives from the seafood industry.
A few good angles to explore locally:
• The MSNBC story quotes a seafood dealer who says prices for seafood crashed about a month ago. What's been the impact on restaurants in your area that sell seafood? What kind of trends with pricing have they seen over the last three months, since the oil spill started?
• Seems that most shrimpers are concerned about what they'll be able to get for their product now. Do local restaurants — or if you have seafood distributors — share the same concern?
• Are consumers concerned about the chance of getting bad seafood? Track folks down out front of a grocery store or a popular seafood restaurant and test the temperature of local residents.
• Find a health expert in your community who could talk about the chances of getting bad seafood where you live.
• Consider a poll on your readers' concerns about shrimp being safe to eat.
As oil in the Gulf seems to be under control, shrimpers are wondering what might happen if consumers don't believe that what they're catching is safe to eat.
Today's a big day in the Gulf. It marks the first day since the oil spill disaster that shrimpers will be able to travel the waters for commercial reason. However, federal waters are still closed.
The big question has to do with oil-contaminated shrimp and some are concerned about what might happen if shrimpers try to sell those shrimp. Shrimpers in this MSNBC story say it's not worth it for shrimpers to do such a thing.
Today in Louisiana, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will meet with fisherman and representatives from the seafood industry.
A few good angles to explore locally:
• The MSNBC story quotes a seafood dealer who says prices for seafood crashed about a month ago. What's been the impact on restaurants in your area that sell seafood? What kind of trends with pricing have they seen over the last three months, since the oil spill started?
• Seems that most shrimpers are concerned about what they'll be able to get for their product now. Do local restaurants — or if you have seafood distributors — share the same concern?
• Are consumers concerned about the chance of getting bad seafood? Track folks down out front of a grocery store or a popular seafood restaurant and test the temperature of local residents.
• Find a health expert in your community who could talk about the chances of getting bad seafood where you live.
• Consider a poll on your readers' concerns about shrimp being safe to eat.
