La. charter boat guide trying to convince tourists the Gulf is clean; calls spill PR disaster

La. charter boat guide says Gulf is mostly clean

GRAND ISLE, La. — The head of the Louisiana Charter Boat Association says the oil spill is a public relations disaster.

Daryl Carpenter, a guide who was elected president of the 300-member association 17 days ago, says he’s struggling to get Americans to understand that three-quarters of the Gulf is clean and open to fishing.

He said Tuesday that people panicked by the media coverage are canceling trips as far out as July and August.

Carpenter ordinarily has five trips a week at this time a year, but in the last 10 days, has booked only one. He says last year was the first good year for charter boat captains since Hurricane Katrina. They’re banking on a good summer to continue their recovery.