BON SECOUR Ala., — Billy Parks of Billy’s Seafood in Bon Secour has just about everything he needs to run his business.

Good variety of shrimp? Check. Good variety of fish? Check.

 “We need more customers,” Parks said, “The seafood is good and we need more customers.”

Even the shrimp caught locally in reopened waters is ready for sale.

“I actually got some from Mobile Bay this weekend, took ‘em home and ate ‘em,” he said. “I didn’t find anything wrong with ‘em.”

Still the customers stay away.

“Right now we are down 70 percent on sales and shrimp production is way down also because most all the waters are closed and lot of the boats are working for BP,” he said. “We’re getting plenty of shrimp, but we are not getting a lot customers because they are scared to buy it or they are tourist and tourists aren’t down here right now. Sixty-five percent of my business is tourists.”

He has been getting shrimp from Texas, Florida and the East Coast. And some “good, fresh grouper and snapper and mahi out of Mexico.”

Parks started the business 35 years ago after helping in his grandfather’s market. The first few years were hard, and he’s seen a few hard times since.

“I’ve seen some tough times, especially in my first 10 15 years of bus, but these are pretty tough,” he said. “I’m hoping to get some help from BP. I’ waiting until the end of July.”

In April and May, business was bustling.

“We were up some in April and May because of panic buying,” he said.

Now he has a claim number with BP and will file soon after a dismal two months since.

“Now in June and July, usually our biggest months of the year, we definitely have a claim,” he said. “I’m having to cut back everywhere I can just to stay in business. We’re trying to tweak things and keep it together as best we can.