The City of Bayou La Batre: News: Website Launch

Vessels of Opportunity Program Changes and Effects
July 8, 2010

Following is a brief note to inform the media that yesterday the City of Bayou La Batre held a meeting with representatives from the Alabama Seafood Association, the Vietnamese Seafood Alliance, Boat People SOS, United Seafood Association, the Organized Seafood Association, the charter boat industry, and BP to discuss the changes taking place in Mobile County’s Vessels of Opportunity program (VOO).

At the onset of the meeting, Mayor Stan Wright and State Representative Spencer Collier stressed the importance of all parties working together to establish a set of policies and standards aimed at discouraging and reducing fraud, whereby all parties will be held accountable, and we can best ensure a smooth transition in the VOO program.

All parties agreed the top priorities moving forward are a) to clean up the waters of Mobile County and ensure oil does not reach the estuaries or Mobile Bay; b) to ensure that those who have been directly affected by the spill are the ones given first consideration in the clean up effort; and c) to do so in a manner that is equitable for all parties involved.

After discussion, the group decided upon an equitable process by which vessels will be judged, based on merit, for future enrollment in the VOO program. Some of the requirements are:

* All boats must be Alabama registered boats;
* Boat owners shall be required to be onboard the boat;
* Seafood processors and shipyard workers shall be allowed to participate;
* Everyone enrolled in the program shall be required to have proper safety certification;
* Everyone enrolled in the program shall be required to pass a drug test; Deckhands shall be required to provide proof of legal U.S. citizenship;

At the conclusion of this meeting, BP stated they would implement the decisions and policies, which were unanimously agreed upon by the representatives of the directly affected industries, into the future operations of the VOO program in Mobile County.

Additional information will be forthcoming as it is made available. For media questions, please contact A.J. Jongewaard, public information officer with the City of Bayou La Batre at 251-243-4199, or 205-617-3933.