[StBernard] 8, 000 square miles in the Gulf of Mexico reopened to fishing by NOAA

[Westley Annis]

8,000 square miles in the Gulf of Mexico reopened to fishing by NOAA

87 percent of federal waters now open

 

NOAA reopened 7,970 square miles of Gulf waters along the southern boundary
of the federal closed area to commercial and recreational fishing Tuesday.
This area is about 60 nautical miles off of central Louisiana and about 140
nautical miles off Mississippi, Alabama, and the western edge of the Florida
panhandle. This is the sixth reopening in federal waters since July 22. The
area was reopened after consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration and under a re-opening protocol agreed to by NOAA, the FDA,
and the Gulf states.

 

"This area is significant to commercial and recreational fishermen who
target tunas and

billfish that migrate far and wide and provide an important source of income
and sport," said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., Under Secretary of Commerce for
Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator. "We'll continue to work with
our partners at FDA and the Gulf states to ensure our Gulf seafood is safe,
so we can reopen more areas to fishing."

 

NOAA stated Tuesday that no oil or sheen has been documented in the area
since July 21. Between July 31 and August 10, NOAA sampled the area for
pelagic finfish, including tuna and billfish. Sensory analyses of 93 samples
and chemical analyses of 92 samples in 18 composites followed the
methodology and procedures in the re-opening protocol. NOAA says that
sensory analysis found no detectable oil or dispersant odors or flavors, and
results of chemical analysis were well below the levels of concern.

 

NOAA says that it will continue to take samples for testing from the newly
re-opened area. The agency will also continue dockside sampling to test fish
caught throughout the Gulf by commercial fishermen.

 

To date, NOAA has reopened over 44,000 square miles of oil-impacted federal
waters under this protocol and sampling regime. NOAA says it will continue
to evaluate the need for fisheries closures and will re-open closed areas as
appropriate.