The NOAA has deemed more than 30,000 square miles along the Gulf Coast to be safe for fishing, letting thousands of fishermen get back to work.
The horrific oil spill off the Gulf Coast has put thousands of fishermen out of business. But finally, the men and women who make their living on the water have a reason to rejoice: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has just re-opened 5,144 square miles to both commercial and recreational fishing.
Wondering whether the fish from that region are safe to eat? The re-opened area is about 115 miles away from BP’s wellhead, and government data from the past month has not shown any traces of oil in the area. NOAA has tested 153 fish for chemical traces, and hasn’t found any cause for concern.
”We know how important it is to the culture and economy of this region to get back out on the water and be able to once again harvest the seafood that the Gulf is famous for,” said Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, commissioner of food and drugs. “But our top priority in the wake of this disaster must be the safety of the fish that makes it to market. We are confident that the proper processes have been followed, and that consumers can feel good once again serving their families seafood from these waters.”
Along with this area, NOAA also recently reopened 26,388 square miles off the coast of Florida. That doesn’t mean the Gulf is oil-free by a long shot—over 50,000 square miles still remain closed to fishing—but slowly and steadily, the ocean is making a comeback.
Want to find out when another closed area re-opens? Sign up for the email bulletins at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or follow @usnoaagov on Twitter for details.