Long Island Fisherman Hit Hard by Hurricane Sandy

Joseph Byrne Thursday, November 8, 2012

There is no question that Long Island has been hit hard by the effects of Hurricane Sandy. Many area residents are still without electricity, heat, fresh water, and even a place to live. Houses were ripped apart and the picture of our island has been forever changed. Businesses within Long Island have also been hit extremely hard. One of those businesses - or industry - is the fishing industry.

Usually at this time of year many captains are getting their boats ready for fishing trips in the Sound, scenic trips up and down the coast, and cashing in on the fishing and tourist industry. However, that is not being found. Long Island’s fishing and boating industry, like so many other industries across the east coast, has been devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Boats and docks are destroyed, bait and fuel supplies are depleted, and fish have found safer waters—leaving Long Island’s fishermen in dire straits.

One of the captain's Frank Rizzo, who runs the Miss Freeport V for the last 12 years, says, "It’s destroyed my business. Sandy ruined two boats, ruined the office, and ruined all our storage. We were counting on winter business, but I don’t think we’ll have any business now. The way Long Island has been destroyed, I don’t know who’s going to be doing parties.”

Freeport is just one fishing town of many that have been decimated in the aftermath of Sandy. Countless businesses from Maine to New Jersey have been affected. Adding to this is that there are reports of seafood shortages in restaurants along the East Coast, but there is no way to get out and catch more. At least for now.

Hopefully Rizzo, and the many other captains in the Long Island area, can get their boats repaired and find better fishing waters to enable them to get back on their feet and support many other businesses that rely on their charters and fishing trips.

joeb@longislandyellowpages.com

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