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MUCH of the fishing grounds in the Gulf of Mexico closed after the BP rig explosion and subsequent oil spill have now been re-opened.
The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has decided that almost 8,000 square miles of waters can now be restored to commercial and recreational fishing activities - six months after the worst environmental disaster in the region for over 100 years. Only about 13 per cent of fishing area remains closed.
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, and is the sixth reopening in federal waters since July.This reopening was announced after consultation with U.S. Food and Drug Administration and under a re-opening protocol agreed to by NOAA, the FDA, and the Gulf states.
The head of the NOAA Jane Lubchenco, said: "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." She added: We will 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.”
The NOAA said it has 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, with sensory analysis finding no detectable oil or dispersant odours or flavours, and results of chemical analysis well below the levels of concern. NOAA has confirmed that it will continue to take samples for testing from the newly re-opened area, along with dockside testing of fish landed.
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