US Closes More Of Gulf To Fishing; Area Now 33% Of Gulf Federal Waters

16th Jun 2010 23:57

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Wednesday expanded the area of the Gulf of Mexico closed to fishing due to the oil spill, reversing course after last week opening up some territory. The closure area, increased to capture portions of the oil slick, now covers 80,806 square miles, or about 33% of Gulf federal waters. That is a one-point expansion from the previous week. The off-limits area has abated from the 37% high reached two weeks ago, however. Wednesday, NOAA said the oil slick was moving beyond the closed-off area's current northern boundary off the Florida panhandle's federal-state waterline. The expansion moves that boundary to Panama City Beach. NOAA has banned fishing in these areas to ensure that Gulf seafood will remain safe for consumers. It is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to implement a broad seafood-sampling plan, which includes testing seafood from inside and outside the closure area and at docksides and markets. The spill began in April when the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that BP PLC (BP, BP.LN) leased from Transocean Ltd. (RIG, RIGN.EB) exploded and sank, killing 11 workers. BP has had limited success in collecting the oil spewing from a broken well, after multiple attempts at containing the leak failed. -By Joan E. Solsman, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2291; [email protected] (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 16, 2010 18:57 ET (22:57 GMT)