Working on the Water was created after the 2010 BP oil spill. Its mission is to support coastal businesses and improve the resiliency of the coastal economy.
What is Working on the Water?
In Louisiana, there is a long tradition of working on the water; the water is part of who we are. Given the volatility of the economy and the hurdles we have had to overcome — from oil spills and hurricanes, to coastal erosion and changing ecosystems — it is important that our people are able to adapt and prosper.
Working on the Water (WOW) has been designed to do just that. The Meraux Foundation is the presenting sponsor of WOW, which is an initiative of the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation.
The program helps inform fishermen on how they can use their unique skills to explore new work opportunities in three key areas: coastal restoration, disaster recovery, and ecotourism. WOW gathers experts from across the region and country to share their experiences and insight into how fishermen can take advantage of opportunities in each of these three information areas.
The WOW brand, through successful programming, has become a trusted source of information among St. Bernard Parish’s coastal businesses. In the future, WOW plans to expand its programming to address workforce needs and opportunities in the maritime and emerging coastal sectors.