Lawmakers propose federal help for Gulf seafood industry

Louisiana's fishing industry has been reeling from a terrible year, but there could be some permanent help coming on Capitol Hill, according to Senator John Kennedy.

Kennedy and Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi) have filed the "Commercial Fisheries and Aquaculture Protection" bill.

Senator Kennedy compares his legislation to how the USDA helps farmers and ranchers when disaster strikes.

A hurricane, record flooding, and freshwater diversion hurt many people in the fishing industry, including Sal Sunseri with P&J Oyster company in New Orleans. Sunseri said he welcomes the help.

"We are a farming industry but we are not under agriculture, we're under wildlife and fisheries," said Sunseri. 

"The further we get along with this and these large fresh water diversions will be a challenge for our fisheries," he said. "We're the number one producer of seafood in America on the mainland."