Louisiana Seafood Distributor's Processing Plant May Close For Good

NEW ORLEANS — Despite laying off dozens of workers, Dean Blanchard Seafood Processing, one of the largest seafood distributors in southeast Louisiana, said it may shut down for good.

"I use to be the shrimp king before," said owner Dean Blanchard.

He said his business endured a massive blow after the Deepwater Horizon (BP) oil spill. Blanchard said he lost millions of dollars in sales, laid off more than half of his workers and still no relief.

"We're giving fuel and ice to the boats to try to get them to go get shrimp. They're not catching enough shrimp for us for fuel and ice," Blanchard said. "I don't feel like I could spend every last dollar I got financing BP mess up."

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