BP embroiled in fresh Gulf gaffe
An attempt to prove the safety of Gulf coast seafood by chowing down on a plate of fish has backfired on one BP executive.
Mike Utsler, chief operating officer of BP’s Gulf Coast Restoration Organisation, staged the fishy stunt in front of waiting cameras at The Lighthouse Restaurant in Bayou la Batre, a fishing village at the centre of the spill.
Unfortunately for Utsler it later transpired that the delicacies served up were far from local with crab claws sourced from Maryland, mullet from Florida and oysters from Texas.
Only the shrimp were obtained from local waters but they had been caught and deep frozen prior to the spill.
The restaurant owner knew of the seafood’s provenance but says as BP never checked, he didn’t tell them.
Federal testing programmes have thus far shown no contamination of seafood brought ashore but some remain cautious on the potential long term effects.