With their livelihoods at stake, some South Florida charter boat businesses, fisherman and related businesses are taking action by filing claims or lawsuits against BP for economic damage from the Gulf oil spill. Others say they won't file a claim unless the oil makes its way to the southeastern side of the state, and not just the Panhandle. Tom Greene, owner of Custom Rod & Tackle in Lighthouse Point, says his business has been affected by the oil spill. "We're seeing the loss of business due to blue marlin fishing tournaments being cancelled in the Gulf," Greene said. Greene said it's costing him "thousands of dollars a month" in lost revenue because customers are not buying tackle, bait, or rods and reels they would have bought if the tournaments had gone as planned. A review of tournaments listed on onthebite.com shows five tournaments canceled in June and two in July. Greene hasn't filed a claim with BP, but instead hired a lawyer to represent him because he's concerned the situation could get worse for his business. "It's a wait-and-see game," he says. Meanwhile, University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith said Wednesday that Florida's economic recovery has been delayed for "at least a year" by ...
↧
