14 DAY TRIAL // Officials at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announce that they finally arrived to a decision concerning vast tracts of the Gulf of Mexico. They say that, after consultations with colleagues from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they determined that about one third of the area previously closed for fishing currently possesses no threat. As such, the stretch has again been reopened for commercial activities, and NOAA is releasing a map of the areas that are still off-limits to fishermen.
“Today’s decision is good news for Gulf fishermen and American consumers. Following the best science for this re-opening provides important assurance to the American people that the seafood they buy is safe and protects the Gulf seafood brand and the many people who depend on it for their livelihoods,” said yesterday Gary Lock, the US Commerce Secretary. Overall, the reopened area covers no less than 26,388 miles, and it became accessible on Thursday. The protocol which again granted individuals and businesses fishing privileges in the region was signed by NOAA, the FDA, and the Gulf states.
The last stretches of oil were observed in the region in mid-June. Since then, aircraft of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) did not manage to find any signs of contaminants in the waters. This made officials conclude that there were no dangers – hidden or visible – lurking beneath the surface. Computer models that simulated the trajectory of the oil slick also showed that the area was at low risk of suffering additional oil contamination. Marine life sampled from the region also proved to be in perfect health, exhibiting only the usual signs of pollution.
“NOAA is working to protect public safety while minimizing harm to the fishing industry. We are confident that seafood caught in this area is, and will continue to be, free from contamination,” says NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco, PhD, who is also the US under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere. The main fishing area in the recently-reopened region is located along the western parts of the Florida shelf, some 220 miles away from the location where the BP-operated Deepwater Horizion semi-submersible drilling rig exploded and sank. The accident took place on April 20-22, when 11 workers were killed.