Fishing halted as Gulf oil slick threatens disaster
May 3rd, 2010 - 3:20 am ICT by IANSWashington, May 3 (IANS) The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Sunday closed commercial and recreational fishing for 10 days in waters affected by the huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
“NOAA is restricting fishing for a minimum of 10 days in federal waters most affected by the BP oil spill, largely between Louisiana state waters at the mouth of the Mississippi river to waters off Florida’s Pensacola Bay,” Xinhua reported quoting a NOAA statement.
“NOAA is working closely with the US Food and Drug Administration and the States to ensure seafood safety, by assessing whether seafood is tainted or contaminated to levels that pose a risk to human health,” the statement said.
The oil spill started April 22, two days after a British Petroleum (BP) oil rig exploded and sank.
The oil slick spewed by the ruptured oil rig is moving fast toward the US shorelines, and experts fear it may spell a major ecological disaster in the country’s history.
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- Louisiana closes territorial seas for shrimp harvesting due to probable oil impact - May 07, 2010
- Jindal declares emergency as Louisiana oil slick set to be 'worse than Exxon Valdez' - Apr 30, 2010
- Obama arrives in Gulf as top-kill effort continues - May 28, 2010
- US to lease out Gulf of Mexico chunk for oil drilling - Jan 27, 2012
- BP working on new approach as Obama loses patience - May 15, 2010
- BP Oil Spill: Dead dolphins washed ashore had oil on them - Apr 08, 2011
- Scientists predict how oil from Deepwater Horizon spill will spread - Sep 03, 2010
- Obama would have fired BP chief over oil spill - Jun 09, 2010
- Obama surveys Gulf as BP's top-kill effort continues - May 29, 2010
Tags: bp oil rig, bp oil spill, british petroleum, ecological disaster, federal waters, food and drug administration, gulf of mexico, gulf oil, louisiana state, mississippi river, mouth of the mississippi river, national oceanic and atmospheric administration, oil slick, pensacola bay, recreational fishing, seafood safety, shorelines, state waters, us food and drug administration, xinhua