BP has paid $256M to businesses for oil spill

GULF OF MEXICO — BP PLC says it has paid $256 million — including $30 million over the past week — for lost income or business profit resulting from the Gulf oil spill.

The company says will start sending at least another $60 million in advance money to cover August by the end of the week.

The company says fishermen have received $39 million, shrimpers have received $23 million and oyster harvesters have been paid $8 million. Charter boat owners have received $6 million.

Another $117 million has gone to workers and businesses in a variety of fields, including deck hands and seafood processing workers.

BP says it has received 133,000 claims and has issued about 83,000 checks.