If the FDA moves ahead with a ban on the sale of raw Oysters in Louisiana, seafood officials are predicting a disaster for the industry.
''I think it will be devastating, it'll be like a nuclear bomb hitting the coastal communities of southeast Louisiana," Chairman of the Louisiana Oyster Task Force Mike Voisin told WWL's Garland Robinette.
The FDA is trying to kill a potentially deadly bacteria that sickens a few dozen people every year. The Food and Drug Administration plan to ban raw oysters harvested in the Gulf of Mexico during the warm months. FDA wants oysters sterilized to kill Vibrio vulnificus, a naturally occurring bacteria that shows up when waters warm up.
Oyster advocates says the process kills the flavor and some officials say if the oysters are treated first, people won't buy them and that in turn could put a lot of people out of work.
Listen to Voisin:
Ewell Smith with the Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board fears says this could also have a bad affect on sales of crabs, shrimp and more.
''As goes oysters, that impacts us negatively on all other forms of seafood,'' he said.
The Louisiana Oyster Task force is mounting an Oyster lovers campaign, urging people to contact every one they can for help to stop the FDA. They are asking locals to call, write or email members of Congress on up to President Obama.
State Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine says the state already does an "extremely thorough" job of sampling and monitoring oyster production "to ensure the safety of our oysters."
Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham says the ban would "threaten thousands of jobs" on the Gulf Coast.
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