Here it comes!

I despise the propaganda machine or old media. Below is an email I received from Capt. Bob Zales today. Bob has been extremely active with fisheries issues and the National Association of Charter Boat Operators (NACO) for many years. We as charter fishermen all owe people like Bob a lot of thanks for the tireless work they do:

This needs to be shared with everyone. I received a call yesterday from Jason with KABC radio in Los Angeles to be on their morning talk show this morning. They set the time and called prior to the show. In addition to discussing the oil spill and how it has affected fishermen, they wanted to discuss the mercury issue.

Prior to the show this morning they called and asked me questions about the impact of the oil and what we did when we brought fish up covered with oil. They asked how we marketed our fish that were contaminated with mercury. I told the guy that it was illegal to sell any recreationally caught fish from the Gulf and that the vast majority of the fish we catch have very low levels of mercury and are perfectly safe to consume. I told him I had been eating lots of fish out of the Gulf since I was 12 and have no indication of having any health problems with mercury. I told him none of the fish we harvest are covered in oil nor are they contaminated by any oil. I explained that although we have serious concerns about possible long term impacts of the oil on our Gulf resources, all the seafood coming from the gulf is save and oil free. I explained that what is really hurting us along the coast is the constant media reports of oil on the beaches and more headed our way. I told him that the closest point of oil to FL is about 60 and most is outside 150 or more and really not expected to hit our coasts unless there are major weather and current changes.

He asked what the impact on us was and I told him my business was down about 90% and most hotels in our area had booking for Memorial Day weekend at levels of 50% or less due to the media reports of oil on our beaches or near them and contaminated fish. I told him that traditionally the hotels were at 90% or better for Memorial Day weekend. I was to be on his show at 7:30 AM PST and our conversation went to 7:35. I had explained that the NOAA/NMFS had created a roaming fishery closure that changed almost daily as the condition of the spill changed and that no fish were being harvested from the area so that all fish harvested from the Gulf are safe to consume and oil free. He asked if I had ever sold fish and I told him I had and knew many commercial fishermen and they were all concerned but they are only producing fish safe to consume and none were catching fish covered with oil. After he was not able to get me to tell him that our fish contained large amounts of mercury and were covered in oil, he told me that the show needed more time on the subject they were discussing prior to when I was supposed to be on and could we do this on Monday. I told him I would be available on Monday and would be glad to be on it.

I send this because of the impression I have from the conversation I had with this guy that he did not want to hear anything positive that our fish are clean, not contaminated, not soaked in oil or mercury. The impact on us and our states of lost business being caused by media reports and misleading the public was not a topic to be discussed. It was clear to me that they wanted someone on the show to tell their audience that all gulf fish were covered with oil, our beaches were covered, and all gulf fish contained large amounts of mercury. If I get called back to do the show on Monday I will pass along the info but I doubt I will be called back. I fear that this is the attitude that most media is taking on our situation and I am not sure if enough money can be spent in any media campaign to counter this. Just a heads up on my experience which has pretty much confirmed my belief that media only wants bad news and not the truth.

Capt Bob Zales, II