[StBernard] NOAA reopens 5,628 square miles to fishing

[Westley Annis]

NOAA reopens 5,628 square miles to fishing

89 percent of federal waters now open

 

NOAA reopened 5,628 square miles of Gulf waters off eastern Louisiana, just
west of the Mississippi River delta, to commercial and recreational fishing
today. This is the seventh reopening in federal waters since July 22.

 

NOAA announced this reopening after consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration and under a reopening protocol
<http://www.fda.gov/Food/ucm217598.htm>  agreed to by NOAA, the FDA and the
Gulf states.

 

"Reopening these critical fishing grounds signals progress and is important
for the long-term recovery of the Gulf's commercial and recreational
industries," said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., Under Secretary of Commerce for
Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "Our tests continue to reveal
that Gulf seafood is safe for consumption. We will not reopen an area until
we are certain the seafood from it is safe."

 

NOAA began sampling the area on July 27 but suspended sampling when oil was
observed by scientists aboard the sampling vessel. A second sampling was
conducted between August 15 and September 19 for finfish and shrimp once the
area was known to be completely free of oil. NOAA says that sensory analysis
found no detectable oil or dispersant odors or flavors, and the results of
chemical analysis were well below the levels of concern. 

 

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

 

To date, NOAA has re-opened more than 52,000 square miles of oil-impacted
federal waters under this protocol and sampling regime.