8,084 Square Miles Reopened In Gulf

The NOAA announced in a bulletin, Tuesday, that they plan to reopen 8,084 square miles of Gulf of Mexico waters previously closed to fishing for concerns due to the BP-Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

In the release, the NOAA stated their rationale on a number of criteria, including the fact that no oil or sheen has been observed in the area since July 21st, and trajectory models show low risk for future exposure to oil.

In addition, the federal agency conducted extensive sensory testing as well as chemical analysis of 92 finfish, which all tested “well below levels of concern for oil.”

31,801 square miles - 13% of Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone - remain closed to fishing because of safety and public health concerns.