Gulf Oil Crisis Not Affecting Local Retail Fish Industry–Yet

While the oil crisis in the Gulf grows worse by the day, local restaurants, fish stores and suppliers remain largely unaffected–so far.

"We buy local or imported, not too much from that area," said Joon Ko, employee in charge at Joon's Fine Seafood located at 1142 Merrick Ave.

Joon's buys a majority of their fish from either the Long Island Retail Fish Market or the Bronx Fish suppliers in Hunt's Point which imports most of its products from South America, Europe and Asia, so the impact has been minimal, and employees like Ko hope it stays that way.

When asked if he was concerned about the Gulf crisis growing worse and affecting local waters and those who depend on them and enjoy them, Ko said: "I certainly hope not.  I haven't heard anything about it yet. So far, no problem.  But I am worried."

Evelyn Brisco, who runs Plaza Seafood at 2010 Merrick Rd., expressed a similar mix of concern and lukewarm confidence.

"So far we have not been that affected," Brisco said as she took a quick break from brisk business during a Monday holiday rush. "We deal with a couple of different suppliers, no one has really made mention of the crisis in the Gulf."

Customers don't appear to be overly concerned either, with respect to product quality or price. "(Customers) aren't asking, it hasn't really been an issue–yet," Brisco said.

Yet there may be some early signs that trouble is on the way.

"Prices haven't doubled or anything like that," Brisco said. "But on certain items, like shrimp and tuna, we're seeing some small increases, like a dollar a pound or so, nothing abnormal."

At one of the island's biggest sources–and resources–for food and fish supply, the attitude of "don't ask, don't tell" is also firmly in place regarding the Gulf crisis and its local impact.

"So far, so good," said Salvo, a long time employee in charge of the fish supply section at Restaurant Depot on Stewart Avenue in Garden City. "Gulf shrimp is up in price of course, but we import a lot from Europe and Asia, so there hasn't been much of an impact."

Like many others, Salvo understood that someone else's problem could soon become everyone else's problem.

"I think (the Gulf crisis) is a nightmare," Salvo said while bagging 10 pounds of catfish (whose price has remained unaffected). "It isn't our problem yet, and I hope it doesn't become our problem."

And then Salvo got to the heart of the issue, "But I guess if it's their problem down there now, that already makes it our problem, too."