NOAA Expands Fishing Area

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has added more than 6,000 square miles to the area off the Gulf of Mexico closed to fishing due to the oil spill.

The closed area now covers 86,985 square miles, or about 36% of Gulf federal waters.

The NOAA said the oil slick was moving beyond the current boundaries off of the Florida panhandle and south of the Mississippi.

The agency has banned fishing in areas where oil has been observed to ensure that Gulf seafood will remain safe for consumers.

It is also working with the USFDA to implement a broad seafood-sampling plan, which includes testing seafood from inside and outside the closure area and at docksides and markets.