Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) June 28, 2010 -- As the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history continues to impact residents who live along the gulf coast, some residents are fleeing the polluted waters of the Gulf of Mexico and heading to Central America, where the waters are pristine.
“The only oil you’ll find on the beaches of Costa Rica is suntan oil, “And that’s the type of oil you don’t mind seeing.”
“When the oil spill in the gulf began making news, we saw an increased interest in Costa Rica, As people have begun to realize that this environmental disaster will have more of a long term effect on the region, we’ve seen those inquiries become more pressing. Fishermen and boaters who make their living in the Gulf States are now looking at options to sustain their way of life.”
t’s no secret the gulf oil spill has affected the fishing and boating industries of the region and prompted one Louisiana native to look toward Costa Rica as a place where he could continue his trade.
“I simply can’t make a living here anymore,” wrote fisherman Thomas Michaels from Grand Isle, La. in an email to Matluck as part of his inquiry on Costa Rica. “They used to call this area ‘The Sportsman's Paradise’ – now it’s simply a nightmare for people like me. That’s why I’m looking at alternatives.”
In Costa Rica, Captain Bobby McGuiness, chosen as the world’s top captain by the authoritative IGFA in 2006 and among the top ten IGFA record setters in 2008, confirmed he too has seen a rise in the number of people who formerly fished the gulf looking at alternatives. “I have 15 to 20 anglers who are considering Costa Rica as an option,” he said, agreeing that the oil spill has had an impact on the number of fishermen heading to the area.
Unfortunately, stories like this are becoming all too commonplace. What’s even more disturbing, however, is that some captains are not even considering their alternatives and are taking extreme measures. On June 23 the gulf oil spill might have been directly responsible for one boat captain committing suicide.
According to Stan Vinson, coroner for Baldwin County Alabama, the 55-year-old captain from Foley, Ala. had been quite despondent about the oil crisis. “All the waters are closed. There’s no charter business anymore. You go out on some of the beaches now, with the oil, you can’t even get in the water,” Vinson was quoted by the Los Angeles Times. “It’s really crippled the tourism and fishing industries here.”
Matluck, a longtime boater and fisherman, is quite concerned by what he’s seeing happening in the area and is committed to doing what he can to help gulf fisherman establish a base of operations in Costa Rica if that’s what they desire.
“No captain should ever have to choose between his life and his livelihood,” Matluck said. “We understand the stress these people are under and we’ll do everything we can to work with any individual who wants to consider the viable alternatives we offer.”
The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.
