Tofufish? Ugh.

The seafood industry of Louisiana took a staggering hit from the storm...at least $1.1 billion dollars (and counting):

Hurricane Katrina’s ravaging winds and tidal urges have dealt at least a $1.1 billion blow to the state’s seafood industry, based on preliminary reports released Friday by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

John Roussel, the department’s assistant secretary of fisheries, said that the losses would represent about a 40 percent drop in the value of the state’s commercial and recreational retail harvest, based on 2003 sales levels of $2.85 billion.

Because it takes oysters two years to rejuvenate, the hit to that crop is expected to be about $300 million this year and next, he said. Most of the oyster production occurs in the waters off St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes which were devastated.

"takes oysters two years..." I'll have to defer to YRHT on that one.

OK, enough kidding--because this is no joke.

Roussel said the loss estimates to the other seafood crops for the next year looks like this: shrimp losses, $539 million; crab losses, $81 million; saltwater fish, $79 million; menhaden, $93 million; and freshwater fish $1.2 million.

“These projections are subject to adjustments as air and water surveys are made over the next several months, Roussel said. The estimates are based on seafood production in Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany and lower Lafourche parishes.

As the nation’s second largest producer of seafood – second to Alaska – Louisiana produces 35 percent of the nation’s oysters and about 30 percent of its blue crabs.

You've got damage to industry infrastructure and to the natural areas that produce such abundance. Recreational fishing also took a heavy hit--and this doesn't begin to account for any toxins or contaminants that make it into the water.

Ouch.