Independent tackle dealers and representatives from Big Rock Sports met with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) representatives and members from Louisiana’s CCA and the U.S. Center for Coastal Conservation to show first hand the devastating impact the Gulf Oil Spill has had on their businesses and their communities. These coastal tackle dealers are just a few of the 2,300 fishing and shooting sports dealers that Big Rock Sports services in the five states gulf coast region. Of already over 700 have been severely impacted economically by this disaster.

Ed Small, President and CEO of Big Rock Sports, voiced his concern for the future of these retailers. “Although we are optimistic the current “top kill” method and cement seal can work, the devastating impact this disaster has already had on our dealers business is huge. One dealer told me last May that he purchased $36,000 in fishing tackle from Big Rock Sports and this May to date, his total purchases are just $650.” He, along with thousands of other Americans running their own businesses in the gulf, are in dire financial conditions if BP and the federal government do not get funds allocated to keep these businesses open. Traditionally going into this Memorial Day holiday dealers would be looking for their best sales weekend of the year - but not this year. Many dealers tell us they only have 3-4 weeks before they may be forced to close their doors permanently - through no fault of their own. From Big Rock Sports perspective, it has already cost us millions of dollars in lost sales, with little hope this will be rectified anytime soon.

To give further first hand knowledge of the impact this disaster has had on the lives of people working for local tackle shops, life long Louisiana resident and area sales manager for Big Rock Sports, Ronnie Cheramie states: “I have been in the business for 24 years and have never seen anything so bad as this. I worked through the mess of Katrina, and the boom days of the Katrina insurance money. Many people, like myself, are concerned with not getting anything from BP or the federal government. Like others affected, I have a wife and children and don’t know what to do. With sales as they are, money is not easy to come by. I feel like I am just standing by helplessly and waiting for this to end. I also feel the fear, frustration, and anxiety of this situation. The oil is just making it to the coastline after one month. If they don’t stop the flow, we will see oil coming to the coast and inland marshes for years to come, killing everything in its path. I am unsure if the gulf coast and fishing can recoup from this disaster and I am very concerned about the future of fishing along the gulf coast, especially the Louisiana area. No one really knows what the results of this disaster will be, both environmentally and economically.”

Adding to the confusion and frustration in the gulf region, coastal shops are seeing year over year sales drops 50-65% since the April 20th explosion. Ronnie further comments: “Many of these stores have been a fixture in the recreational fishing community for years. This sales decrease is partly due to all the closures of popular fishing areas, both inland and offshore. Many areas are being opened and closed daily. Fisherman are not going fishing because they are unsure of what’s going to be open or closed to fishing on any given day. Because of the fishing activity decrease by recreational fisherman, these tackle dealers are not being visited by their regular customers. Overall coastal saltwater fishing and buying of fishing tackle is at a virtual standstill. Another reason; anglers are not going because of the news media. The news media has put a lot of stress on the fishing community. They have pretty much told everyone in the U.S. that “Louisiana is closed” to fishing. Because of that, the overall fishing and tourism in Louisiana coastal towns is nonexistent. Many of the local guides are thinking of getting regular jobs because of the lack of out of town guests.”

So what is the estimated financial impact to the gulf region as this disaster continues? “To put this into perspective, should the worst case scenario occur and the entire Gulf of Mexico is closed to recreational fishing, there would be a per day $8.6 million dollar loss in recreational fishing trip expenditures for purchases of bait and tackle, food and beverages, ice, gas, lodging and other items needed for recreational fishing.” Says Mike Nussman, President and CEO of the American Sportfishing Association.

According to Gary Zurn, SVP, Marketing and Dealer Services at Big Rock Sports and Chairman of ASA’s Government Affairs Saltwater Committee, it is vital that this disaster be put into perspective. “No one really knows what the future holds as far as the oil leak’s impact on the fisheries. Although many areas of the Gulf of Mexico remain open to recreational fishing, most anglers throughout the U.S. are cancelling or postponing trips to the region, even freshwater fishing trips. Taken in total, the economic impact numbers are staggering, but behind those numbers are thousands of family-owned businesses, many whom I know personally, who stand to be financially decimated due to this disaster. It’s important that the sportfishing industry’s voice is heard as the economic assessment and financial compensation efforts move forward.”

Recreational fishing contributes $41 billion dollars in economic output in the Gulf Coast region annually and supports over 300,000 jobs. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most popular areas for recreational fishing in the United States with nearly six million saltwater anglers taking over 45 million fishing trips each year, fishing for red drum, spotted seatrout, sheepshead and red snapper among others.