NEW ORLEANS – The Friends of the Fishermen program promoted on WWL-TV and available at Rouse’s supermarkets and several local restaurants helped net $30,000 to help fishermen impacted by the Gulf oil spill.
The program started over the summer and was available to customers who would sponsor a white paper boot found in the stores.
“Almost 70 percent of domestic shrimp is caught in Gulf Coast waters, and 90 percent of the Gulf oysters the country eats are caught here,” said Donald Rouse. “Our local fishermen depend on sales from around the country for part of their income.”
The program lasted four weeks and during that time $25,000 was raised in the grocery stores and another $5,000 in local restaurants.
Distribution of the funds is being administered by 501c1 organizations representing not-for-profit funds officially endorsed by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board and Mississippi Seafood Marketing.
