"Feds Declare Fisheries Disaster in La., Miss., Ala."

"The Obama administration Monday declared a commercial fisheries failure in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, paving the way for federal grants to offset financial losses in the fisheries industry.

"We are taking this action today because of the potentially significant economic hardship this spill may cause fishermen and the businesses and communities that depend on those fisheries," Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. "The disaster determination will help ensure that the federal government is in a position to mobilize the full range of assistance that fishermen and fishing communities may need."

Locke said he acted on requests from Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour."

Bruce Alpert reports for the New Orleans Times-Picayune May 25, 2010.