Television media has been inundated with different political platforms by the prospective presidential candidates as the election nears. Both sides agree in some form, extent or effect that offshore drilling in the Gulf near Florida’s beaches may be a viable option toward “energy independence.” (At least, that’s what the buzzwords and commercials echo.)

But what is the effect on Floridians, especially Florida fishermen? It’s not exactly known; areas off Florida’s coast have been off-limits to oil drilling in the past. That may change if the 1990 moratorium instituted by George H. W. Bush is lifted.

Recently, the American Petroleum Institute has run television ads (www.api.org/aboutapi/ads) on cable news and in some of Florida’s largest newspapers raving about improved, clean technology of oil rigs and the benefits to the economy. But building new rigs in the Gulf does not guarantee lower gas prices in the near future, opponents say. Oil is a commodity sold on the world market, and experts say it could be at least ten years before oil pumped from any potential oil platforms in closed zones of the Gulf reach the market.

Offshore fishermen realize an obvious positive to oil rigs in the Gulf—structure for red snapper, and to some extent, wahoo and tuna. The nearly 4,000 rigs in the northern Gulf produce hordes of red snapper each year. Deep rigs off the Louisiana coast are known for their exceptional wahoo, yellowfin tuna and dolphin catches.

Opponents to offshore drilling include environmental organizations, and tourist and beach-related businesses. The newest campaign to halt offshore drilling is called “Don’t Rig Florida’s Economy.” Opponents worry Florida beaches may feel the effects of unforeseen oil spills or the “visual pollution” of oil rigs and accompanying refineries close to shore.

Then there is the hurricane factor. After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) released an assessment of Gulf oil rigs. The number of pipelines damaged was reported at 457. The number of platforms destroyed in the Gulf of Mexico was 113. Six spills of 1,000 barrels or greater were reported; the largest of these was 3,625 barrels of condensate reported by the Gulf South Pipeline Company. A total of 146 spills of one barrel or greater were reported in federal waters; 37 of these were 50 barrels or greater. Read the complete report at http://www.mms.gov/ooc/press/2006/press0501.htm.

Expect oil drilling to be a prominent issue this upcoming election. The latest Quinnipiac University poll shows 60 percent of the Floridians likely to vote in the presidential race support drilling for oil and gas in areas offshore that are now protected. But that doesn’t mean Floridians will be involved with the decision making; the latest bill proposed in the Senate would not give Floridians any say in expanding drilling (unlike other coastal states), reports the St. Petersburg Times.