Ideas to Improve Mobile Bay After the Oil Spill

In all of the 45+ years that I have lived and enjoyed the Mobile area, nothing has ever been so troubling to me as the Deep Water Horizon oil spill catastrophe. Loss of 11 lives, a suicide by a distraught fellow charter boat captain, unquantifiable emotional damage- not only to residents of the Gulf coast, but all over the world- incalculable economic and environmental damage were all brought about by this event. We now, though, after 100+ days following the beginning of this disaster, may have reached the point of where the true healing process can begin.

All processes need a starting point and one of the best places to start is a rebuilding of the Mobile Bay system. No one knows for certain what the true effects of the oil spill will be on our Bay- either short or long term. As we hope for minimal effect we can also take a proactive role in helping restore Mobile Bay to make it even better than it ever has been.

Here are a few very realistic and “doable” ways to help accomplish the rebuilding process. 

• Habitat restoration- People older than me tell stories of miles and miles of sea grass lining both shores of the Bay. Clear water was the norm. Old charts indicate many more acres of oyster beds throughout the Bay. Oysters are filters that “create” clear water. By allowing sunlight to penetrate to the bottom, the sea grass grows, which further adds to sediment removal. All marine life in turn flourishes. As funding has become available, this replanting process has already taken place and is supported by virtually every organization that holds a stewardship role for Mobile Bay. A very good article was published in the Living section of the Mobile Press-Register June 20 edition and I encourage you to read it. It was written by Bill Finch and Judy Haner of the Nature Conservancy and is titled “We can give survivors of the oil spill a place in which to recover”. (Click here to read the article). The actual replanting can be done by commercial oystermen and fishermen until the existing fisheries are reopened and the market for local seafood improves. Most importantly, their expertise in reef locations would be invaluable. The recreational fisherman will benefit form the replanting as well. The fishery has improved in all waters adjacent to previous reseeding and the increase in marine life only adds to the productivity of the fishery.
• Monitor fishery condition- Following Hurricane Katrina commercial fishermen provided reports of their catch via the EDRP (Emergency Disaster Relief Program). In this reporting process we provided Alabama Marine Resources data on our catch quantities and qualities, how long and where we fished, etc. (See copy of completed reporting form). Due to the uncertainty of the oil spill effects, we need to establish existing fishery quality and track it over at least a 5 year period. Both the commercial and recreational fishing sectors can be involved in this as the more usable data that is gathered, the better the decision- making process will be. Compensating an organization that was impacted by the spill to administer the reporting program will help replace funds lost, too. Orange Beach Charter Boat Association, for example, administered the program after Katrina.
• Increase water access- It is surprising when one realizes that there are only 2 public boat ramps on Mobile Bay and none in the Mississippi Sound. More often than not, those public ramps are overcrowded leaving users frustrated. By simply adding a couple of ramps on each side of Mobile Bay and one on the Mississippi Sound, improving the docks at the City of Bayou la Batre ramps (see image of ramp and existing dock) all users can have a more enjoyable experience on our Bay. The ramps need only be along the lines of the ramps at Chocolotta, Navco Park, Little Billy Goat Hole (see image) or Fort Morgan and could be added to existing sites such as Bayfront Park (see image), the park at the west end of Dauphin Island at Katrina Cut (see image), the dirt launch north of Point Clear or the launch at Mullet Point.

Every level of Government – City County, State and Federal is broke. No matter if all were in agreement that the ideas are good, government funding for projects like the above mentioned currently is non-existent and most likely will be so for a long time. We do now have, however, funding sources both available and becoming available which are perfect for just such projects. The monies that BP-PLC has presented to the State of Alabama and the U.S. Government are intended for just this. Moreover, every person that uses the Bay from commercial fishermen to jet-skiers, bird watchers to recreation fishermen will benefit from them rather than expenditures made that benefit only a few.

Quite honestly, it would be very easy for me to sit back and do nothing. I launch early so I don’t fight traffic at the ramps. I spend more time on the water than the average fisherman, so I can locate and catch fish for my clients even when it gets tough. So what is my motivation for making things better? Mobile Bay has been good financially to me and my family. My true motivation, however, is this- I thought that we had lost this treasure at the beginning of the disaster. I then realized that Mobile Bay had been good to me in many other ways than just financially, many more important ways - it had been good to me mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I vowed that no matter what happened, I would do everything I could to make it a better place. Now it’s time for me to give something back- that’s my motivation.

Now is the time to act! If you care at all about the condition of Mobile Bay, now is the time that we need get together to secure funding. Contact your elected officials - county, state and federal (click here for their contact information and a template letter you can send). Tell them that you would like to see some of the money that BP-PLC has provided go towards projects that will improve the areas impacted by the oil leak- like Mobile Bay and the Mississippi Sound. If you are an elected official, it’s time to go after this money for your constituency. I hope that we never have to deal with anything like this again, but we also may never have this opportunity again. The projects can be done and the money is there. Now is the time to do it!

Copyright A-Team Fishing Adventures 2006