VOA标准英语2012--Louisiana Oystermen Still Struggling Two Years After Oil Spill

Louisiana Oystermen Still Struggling Two Years After Oil Spill

Nearly two years have passed since the accident that changed the Collins brothers' lives.
"We weren't rich like we can travel the world. But we weren't worried about [paying] our mortgage, putting gas in our truck, putting food on the table. And now those things [have] become worryfull," recalled Nick Collins, a fourth generation oystermen. "[But now after the spill,] in 90 percent of the area that was affected², all we have are dead shells."
Just like his own 12-year-old son, Nick has been in the family business since he was just a boy. Now…he is not sure he can provide his son the same kind of job security as his father did for him.
"My dad wanted me to go to college. And I didn't. I was like: 'go where? I'm going oystering.' You know this is our legacy," Collins added.
Shortly after the disaster, a $20 billion fund was set up to pay those affected by the spill. The Collins Oyster¹ Company received $44,000. Nick got $14,000, but he says it's not enough.
"BP needs to man up and say 'we killed Louisiana's oyster industry.' Because they did. [At one time,] Louisiana produced 80 percent of the United States' oysters³. Now we don't," Collins noted⁴.
Washington lawyer Kenneth Feinberg was appointed by BP and the Obama administration to implement⁵ and administer the fund. Collins and many others in the area have criticized the ad-hoc distribution of the money. But Feinberg says the criticism goes with the territory.
"You've got to understand that people have suffered terribly. Death, physical injury, economic loss, [it's all] very emotional. And you carefully empathize, try and understand where they are coming from, these claimants, but at the end of the day you do a professional job. And that's what you've been asked to do, so you do it," Feinberg said.
Before the oil spill, Collins Oyster Company used to average 60 to 80 sacks of oysters a day - about 2,700 to 3,600 kilograms. Last year, things got so bad the company had to shut down for a period.
And the company where the Collins Brothers sold their oysters for decades is no longer buying them.
Al Surseri, who runs P&J Oyster Processors and Distributors with his brother, says he now only has two part-time employees. He says the hardest thing was laying off all the people he grew up with.
"Its more than just employees, they were family members. We knew their kids. They knew our kids. This is one of the most difficult things I've been able to handle emotionally," Surseri said.
Lawyer Kenneth Feinberg notes that payments to fishermen can only do so much.
"I can't make people whole if they are going to lose seven generations of institutional memory. I can't do that. Money can't do that. I can only do the best I can to give people some financial help transitioning and moving forward," Feinberg added.
BP recently released a statement saying it has now settled with the oil-spill victims. But Collins says he has not received anything. Until he does, he says, he plans on just making ends meet and keeping hope alive for the next generation too.

1 oyster   

n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人

参考例句：

• I enjoy eating oyster; it's really delicious.我喜欢吃牡蛎，它味道真美。
• I find I fairly like eating when he finally persuades me to taste the oyster.当他最后说服我尝尝牡蛎时，我发现我相当喜欢吃。

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 oysters   

牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We don't have oysters tonight, but the crayfish are very good. 我们今晚没有牡蛎供应。但小龙虾是非常好。
• She carried a piping hot grill of oysters and bacon. 她端出一盘滚烫的烤牡蛎和咸肉。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。