54,096 Square Miles of Gulf of Mexico Closed by NOAA

As of May 25, 2010, NOAA has extended the closed fishing area in the Gulf of Mexico to match the Louisiana state waters closure west of the current boundaries, and to incorporate an area reportedly with oil in the southwest.

The closed area now represents 54,096 square miles, which is slightly more than 22 percent of Gulf of Mexico federal waters. More than 77 percent of Gulf federal waters are available for fishing.

Details can be found at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/.

Louisiana Re-opens State Waters for Fishing

On May 12, 2010, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Robert Barham announced that the state’s territorial seas are open, effective immediately, from the Empire Canal westward to Belle Pass for recreational and commercial fishing.

“My goal is to have people out there fishing,” Barham said. “Every day we are making new assessments and decisions to give all anglers, commercial and recreational, every opportunity to utilize our state’s great resources.”

NOAA Modifies Gulf of Mexico Closed Areas

NOAA’s Fisheries Service has modified the area closed to fishing in the Gulf of Mexico due to the BP oil spill, which will include federal waters seaward of Louisiana state waters in the vicinity of Timbalier Island to waters off Florida’s Choctawhatchee Bay.

These changes will leave more than 93 percent of the Gulf’s federal waters open for fishing, and supporting productive fisheries and tourism. The changes took effect on May 11, 2010.

NOAA also will expedite updates to the areas closed to fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as public notice of those changes. The closure process is being improved to cut down on the red tape necessary to modify the boundaries of the closure area. Beginning May 11, 2010, area boundaries could be modified daily, based on where and how fast the oil spill is moving.

Any changes to the closed area will become effective at 6:00 p.m. EST the same day. The six-hour window is meant to give fishermen time to retrieve their gear from any areas that are about to close, and advance notice of areas that will soon open for fishing. A status message will be updated daily, even when closed area has not changed. This message will also be available on NOAA Weather Radio and by calling NOAA Fisheries southeast regional office at 727-824-5305.

NOAA will provide daily updates at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov by 12:00 p.m. EST.

“Our plan is to use this new expedited process to open fisheries as well,” said Roy Crabtree, NOAA’s Fisheries Service southeast regional administrator. “If an area no longer exhibits oil and we determine through analysis that fish and shellfish are safe to eat, we will re-open that area to commercial and recreational fisheries.”

In the meantime, NOAA strongly advises fishermen not to fish in areas where oil or oil sheens are present, even if they are outside the closed area.

Gulf of Mexico Fishing Closure Extended

NOAA Fisheries Service modified the boundaries of the closed fishing area to better reflect the current extent of the oil pollution. All commercial and recreational fishing including catch and release is prohibited in the closed area.

The closure will be in effect for 10 days, from May 7, 2010, through 12:01 a.m., local time, May 17, 2010, unless conditions allow NOAA Fisheries Service to terminate it sooner. NOAA Fisheries Service will continue to monitor and evaluate the oil spill and its impacts on Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) fisheries and will take immediate and appropriate action to extend or reduce this closed area.

source: Gulf Council press release

NOAA Closes Federal Fishing Areas Affected by BP Oil Spill

NOAA is restricting fishing for a minimum of ten days in federal waters most affected by the BP oil spill, largely between Louisiana state waters at the mouth of the Mississippi River to waters off Florida’s Pensacola Bay.

The closure is effective immediately. For more information please see the attached press release or visit the NOAA website at: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100502_fisheries.html

Louisiana Closes Fishing Areas

On April 30, 2010, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, announced they will be closing select fishing areas as a precautionary response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

LDWF Secretary Robert Barham announced the closure of both recreational and commercial fishing in Zone 1, excluding the coastal boundaries of Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurapas.

BP's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig accident has resulted in a significant release of oil into the offshore waters of southeast Louisiana.

"I signed this emergency closure today as a proactive effort to prevent any oil-tainted fish, shrimp or crab from being caught and thus consumed," said LDWF Secretary Robert Barham.  "Now is the time to act as we see what the impacts may be to Louisiana's fragile ecosystems."

For a printable map (PDF) of fishing area closures, visit:

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/pdfs/news/FISHING%20CLOSURE.pdf

Officials with both agencies are working with the Governor's Office for Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Updates on any further closures or changes in the status of areas closed will be posted at: emergency.louisiana.gov.

To learn more about LDWF, visit www.wlf.louisiana.gov.