According to a June 7 report from NPR, many people — from work boat captains to offshore caterers — say shutting down the industry for that long could be a bigger economic blow to the region than the oil spill itself. There's no doubt that the oil and gas industry is the biggest player in Louisiana's economy. It accounts for about 16 percent of the state's GDP, according to the Tulane University Energy Institute. Fishing accounts for one percent, and tourism four percent.
(Source: National Public Radio)