(GULF SHORES, Ala.) Thousands of of businesses and tens of thousands of people were affected by BP oil disaster.
Folks fought hard to get their share of what's offered to cover what they lost during that tough time.
Some business owners who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars feel BP's penalties aren't enough.
Al Sawyer opened King Neptune's Seafood Restaurant in Gulf Shores 19 years ago.
His business is stronger than ever despite major setbacks from the BP oil spill two years ago.
"I was pretty disgusted with it all. From the 11 lives lost on the rig to the oil that hit the beaches," said Al Sawyer, Owner of King Neptune's.
King Neptune's survived but the disaster forced Sawyer to close his other restaurant, Captain Galley's.
"It pretty much went downhill after that," said Sawyer.
"It was pretty disheartening. We didn't have a lot of people come down," said waitress Susie DeShazo.
As BP pleaded guilty to felony charges and agreed to pay more than $4 billion in penalties, Sawyer and his staff were glued to the TV.
"I think they should have to give more than that just because of the 11 lives lost," said DeShazo.
"They make a lot of money. Billions of dollars in profits a quarter. I don't know that you can put a price tag on people's lives but I guess that's what they're settling on doing," said Sawyer.
The settlement includes payments of more than $2 billion to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
Sawyer hopes that money is used wisely to benefit fishermen and the seafood industry as a whole.
"Maybe supply some more reefs in the Gulf to make more habitats for all the fish," said Sawyer.
Sawyer says his staff is resilient. King Neptune's had it's best year ever in 201. And this year's profits are already 15% above last year.
