June 2010
A statue of Christ faces the water at the private fishing marina in Pointe Aux Chene which was leased to BP as a staging ground for BP’s clean up operations after the oil spill. BP employees surrounded the statue with a temporary barrier while heavy machinery operated on the grounds. The company hired local fisherman who used their own boats to skim oil from the water and deliver and lay boom in an effort to protect shorelines. Commercial fishing remained closed for several months after the spill and oyster grounds continue to be off limits to commercial use. The markets for Gulf seafood have yet to recover.
Photo: Kael Alford/Panos Pictures