NOAA: All Gulf of Mexico Federal Waters Now Open
More than 1,000 square miles reopened after latest tests
Tuesday, April 19, 2011: Federal Waters Reopened at Oil Spill Wellhead (NOAA)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reopened to commercial and recreational fishing 1,041 square miles of water in the Gulf of Mexico immediately surrounding the Deepwater Horizon wellhead.
The announcement , which came on April 19 - a day before the one-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill - marked the 12th and final reopening in federal waters since July 22 and opening all of the areas in federal waters formerly closed to fishing due to the disaster. The reopening was announced after consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and under a reopening protocol agreed to by NOAA, the FDA and the Gulf states.
“I am pleased to announce that all federal waters affected by the spill are now open to all fishing,” said Jane Lubchenco, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA Administrator. “I thank fishermen and the public for their patience and FDA for its support and cooperation throughout this process while we worked diligently to ensure the integrity of Gulf seafood.”
NOAA sampled the area November 11 – November 14, 2010, March 12 – March 16, 2011, and March 28 – April 1, 2011, for potentially affected finfish, including tuna, swordfish and escolar. The samples found no detectable oil or dispersant odors or flavors, and results of chemical analysis for oil-related compounds and dispersants well below the levels of concern. All test results are publicly available.
NOAA and FDA developed and implemented a chemical test to detect the presence of dispersants in fish, oysters, crabs and shrimp. The results of chemical testing showed that 99 percent of samples contained no detectable dispersant residues and the few samples that did contain dispersant residues showed levels more than 1000 times lower than FDA levels of concern, said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg.
“Throughout this process, public health and safety has been our primary goal,” Dr. Hamburg said. “This has been an extraordinary team effort and the reopening of these federal waters serves as a dramatic example of what cooperation between federal agencies can accomplish.”
NOAA continues to work closely with the FDA and the Gulf states to ensure seafood safety. Thousands of test results, all publicly available, prove Gulf seafood is safe from oil and dispersant contamination, a NOAA official said.
The total area reopened on April 19 represents about 0.4 percent of federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico and 100 percent of the formerly closed area, as last modified on February 2, 2011. No oil or sheen has been documented in the area since August 4. At its peak, the closed area was 88,522 square miles, or 37 percent of federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico.
