By Logan Neill, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, December 30, 2010
HERNANDO BEACH —Although the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster in April that was so much a part of the news in 2010 never directly affected the waters of Hernando County, its impact was still felt locally.
The millions of gallons of crude oil that gushed into the Gulf of Mexico for months seeped into the lives of those working in the commercial and recreational fishing industry. For some commercial fishermen, who already were facing tough times in the economic downturn, it added only more misery.
"It's been very bad all around for anyone in the commercial fishing industry," said Kathryn Birren, owner of five fishing boats and the Hernando Beach Seafood wholesale/retail seafood business. "We've never seen anything like it in our lives."
During the summer, Birren helped organize and draw attention to the local plight that ...