Effective August 27, 2010 at 6 p.m. eastern time (5 p.m. central time), NOAA will reopen 4,281 square miles (11,088 sq km) of area it had previously closed to commercial and recreational fishing in the Gulf of Mexico in response to the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The area closed to all fishing now measures 48,114 sq mi (124,614 sq km) and covers about 20% of the Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone. All commercial and recreational fishing including catch and release is prohibited in this closed area. An area off the Florida panhandle has been reopened to finfish, but remains closed to other species, such as shrimp. Transit through the closed area is allowed. NOAA will continue to evaluate the need for fisheries closures based on the evolving nature of the spill and will re-open closed areas as appropriate.

Read the entire bulletin here.

 

NOAA Reopens More than 5,000 Square Miles of Closed Gulf Fishing Area
No oil has been observed for 30 days in area to be re-opened for fishing

Today NOAA reopened 5,144 square milesof Gulf waters to commercial and recreational finfish fishing. The reopening was announced after consultation with FDA and under a re-opening protocol agreed to by NOAA, the FDA, and the Gulf states.

Since July 3, NOAA data have shown no oil in the area, and United States Coast Guard observers flying over the area in the last 30 days have also not observed any oil. Trajectory models show the area is at a low risk for future exposure to oil and, most importantly, fish caught in the area and tested by NOAA experts have shown no signs of contamination.

“Consumer safety is NOAA’s primary concern, which is why we developed rigorous safety standards in conjunction with the FDA and the Gulf states to ensure that seafood is safe in the reopened area,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “We are confident that Gulf fish from this area is safe to eat and pleased that recreational and commercial fisherman can fish these waters again.”

At its closest point, the area to be reopened is about 115 miles northeast of the Deepwater/BP wellhead.

From June 27 through July 20, NOAA sampled 153 finfish, including grouper, snapper, tuna and mahi mahi, from the area. Sensory and chemical testing of these finfish followed the methodology and procedures in the re-opening protocol, with sensory analysis finding no detectable oil or dispersant odors or flavors, and results of chemical analysis well below the levels of 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.”

NOAA will continue to take samples for testing from the newly re-opened area, and the agency has also implemented dockside sampling to test fish caught throughout the Gulf by commercial fishermen.

Fishing closures remain the first line of defense to prevent contaminated seafood from entering the marketplace. NOAA continues to work closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Gulf states to ensure seafood safety. NOAA and FDA are working together on broad-scale seafood sampling that includes sampling seafood from inside and outside the closure area, as well as dockside and market-based sampling.

The closed area now covers 52,395 miles, or 22 percent of the federal waters in the Gulf, down from 37 percent at its height. On July 22, NOAA reopened 26,388 square miles of Gulf waters off of the Florida Peninsula.

NOAA has a number of methods for the public to obtain information or be notified when there is a change to the closed area:

Sign up to receive Southeast Fishery Bulletins by email at SERO.Communications.Comments@noaa.gov

• Call 1-800-627-NOAA (1-800-627-6622) to hear a recording of the current coordinates in English, Vietnamese, and Spanish
• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio for messages about the closure
• Receive text messages on your cell phone about changes to the closed area by texting fishing@gulf to 84469 (visit http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/558107for more information)
• Follow us on Twitter: @usnoaagov to get a tweet when the closed area changes

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Visit us at http://www.noaa.gov or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/usnoaagov.

LDWF Opens Mississippi River Delta to Recreational Fishing

LDWF Secretary Robert Barham announced the opening of recreational fishing in a portion of the Mississippi River Delta in Plaquemines Parish effective July 29 at 6:00 p.m.

Description of area open is as follows:

• The portion of state inside and outside waters south of the northern shore of Pass a Loutre westward to the western shoreline of Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River shall open to recreational fishing.

POCO BUENO COMMITTEE PRESS RELEASE REGARDING THE DQ

For Immediate Release

From: Poco Bueno Invitational Tournament

July 19, 2010

The Tournament Committee of the Poco Bueno Invitational Fishing Tournament would like to clarify the recent ruling of the Rules Committee that disqualified a Blue Marlin, in accordance with tournament IGFA rules.

Pursuant to Tournament rules, the Committee received a handwritten Protest Letter recounting eyewitness observation to the boating of a Blue Marlin and the potential violation of IGFA rules, leading to the questioning of the crew regarding the event.

According to crew testimony to the Rules Committee, the fish was fought to the side of the boat, the leader parted and the gaff pulled free from the fish. According to IGFA rules number 14 and number 1, at that point in time, the fish is free swimming and constitutes an escape. At that point the fish is lost.

According to the crew in their testimony, the fish was not connected to the rod or gaff and the fish went away then floated up at some time and distance and then they came alongside and captured the fish.

These events are clearly in contrast to the intent of the Angling Rules and the Tournament Rules Committee made their decision based on the Official Rules of the IGFA and stand by their decision.