Mississippi fishermen call for resignation of Dept. of Marine Resources director
By Al Jones | The Biloxi Sun Herald
Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2010BILOXI — A group of commercial fishermen voiced their anger and concern during Tuesday's monthly Commission on Marine Resources meeting.
The group of 10 or 15 also asked Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Director Bill Walker to resign over what the fishermen said was a lack of representation since the Deepwater Horizon's massive oil disaster began April 20.
Mark Stewart, one of the more vocal commercial fishermen, said plumes of oil are still being found in the Mississippi Sound.
Stewart, who owns the shrimp boat Charlotte and Roger based in Ocean Springs, said the DMR did the wrong thing by reopening the Sound.
"Two weeks after the oil stopped, they reopened the Mississippi Sound," he said.
"That was too early. They should have kept the Sound closed the rest of the year, then reopen it next year. Bill Walker is doing a poor job. He is not telling the truth, and I had to call him out on it. He needs to go."
Stewart, a third-generation fisherman, said a petition is being circulated to have Walker removed.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/08/18/99350/mississippi-fishermen-call-for.html