Many locals argue that living in close proximity to - and eating seafood from - the Gulf is risky and disagree with federal agencies' claims that the Gulf is now safe.

In response to their oil disaster last summer that released at least 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, BP admitted to using at least 1.9 million gallons of widely banned toxic Corexit dispersants (which have been banned in 19 countries) to sink the oil.

The dispersants contain chemicals that many scientists and toxicologists have warned are dangerous to humans, marine life, and wildlife.

Oil, and what many Gulf residents believe is a residue generated by the effect the dispersants have on BP's oil, continue to wash ashore.

Chemist Bob Naman with the Analytical Chemical Testing Lab in Mobile, Alabama has been testing seafood samples for chemicals from BP's oil and dispersants, and told Al Jazeera he has not tested a sample yet that was not contaminated.

"I'm scared of what I'm finding," Naman added, "This is an unprecedented environmental catastrophe."