NOAA Reopens More Than 5,000 Square Miles in the Gulf of Mexico to Fishing

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

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.

NOAA began sampling the area on July 27 but suspended sampling when oil was observed by scientists aboard the sampling vessel. NOAA conducted a second and complete sampling of the area between August 15 and September 19 for finfish and shrimp once the area was known to be completely free of oil. Sensory analyses of 89 finfish and 25 shrimp samples, and chemical analyses of 188 finfish in 15 composites and 75 shrimp in 15 composites collected after August 15, followed the methodology and procedures in the reopening protocol. 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 will also continue dockside sampling to test fish caught throughout the Gulf by commercial fishermen.

The remaining closed area now covers 26,287 square miles, or about 11 percent of the federal waters in the Gulf. The boundary of the fishery closure has changed 28 times after it was first instituted on May 2, at which time it covered about 3 percent (6,817 square miles) of Gulf waters around the wellhead. As oil continued to spill from the wellhead, the area grew in size, peaking at 37 percent (88,522 square miles) of Gulf waters on June 2 and to date, NOAA has re-opened more than 52,000 square miles of oil-impacted federal waters under this protocol and sampling regime.

SOURCE:  http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20101001_reopening.html