Since the oil spill began, the shrimp catch has been a fraction of what was expected. "This should've been our best season yet," one businesswoman said.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
Trung Tran waits to bring in shrimp from the dock in Leeville, La.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
Christopher Nguyen collects shrimp in Leeville, La.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
Loc Vo and his small crew will assist in oil spill cleanup efforts instead of hauling in shrimp.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
Besides the shrimpers, the seafood industry keeps many people employed at processing plants, wholesalers and po-boy shops.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
"We may have to shut down soon," Ngoc Nguyen said, tallying the day's catch.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
A shrimp delivery is checked for weight.
Some people along the gulf have received money from BP, but most say it's not enough to pay off debts. "We didn't invest in anything but the seafood business," Ngoc Nguyen says.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
Many Vietnamese immigrants came to the Gulf Coast because of the area's tropical climate and Catholic heritage.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
The dock in Leeville, La., is quiet as many out-of-work fishermen seek food vouchers at a local church.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
A bait shop is closed for the season.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
Dung Nguyen hopes to get a job on a shrimp boat bound for Texas.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
Christine Nguyen, 3, and Lisa Nguyen, 20, await word on their father's job prospects. Lisa fixes trawls and cleans up boats, but she, too, is unemployed.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
Nancy Nguyen, 9, helps her grandmother to the table during lunch.
Nancy's parents both work in the shrimp industry. Her father is normally aboard a boat at this point in the year, and her mother makes shrimp nets.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
Trung Le eats at the home of his neighbors, the Nguyens. He made plans to work alongside Dung Nguyen on a shrimp boat headed to Texas.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
The line for $100 food vouchers at New Orleans's Mary Queen of Vietnam Catholic Church starts early and can last seven hours.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
Instructions for people needing assistance is translated into Vietnamese.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
Each morning, the church community office hands out 20 food vouchers -- one per family.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
Chinh Nguyen meets with a volunteer for financial aid.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
Food vouchers are in demand, and a security guard patrols the distribution area to prevent fighting.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
Dung Nguyen with his wife, Ut, arrived before dawn to try to secure food vouchers. Nguyen thinks his job options might include BP deckhand training.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
Dung Nguyen, right, settled in New Orleans because of the cheap living and seemingly plentiful shrimping work.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
Trung Le, left, and Dung Nguyen lost an opportunity to work in Texas because the boat they were to leave on had mechanical issues.
Melina Mara-The Washington Post
Gallery Credits:
Producer, Photo Editor Stephen Cook
Text Editor Doris N. Truong
BP oil spill cleanup and containment