Texas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina,
Virginia, Maryland, New York, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine,
Oregon, Washington
GeoPlatform
NOAA has launched a new federal website for detailed near-real-time
information about the response to the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill. The
website incorporates data from the various agencies that are working
together to tackle the spill.
State
of Louisiana
Emergency Response Web Site
Emergency.louisiana.gov is the state’s online resource for information
about our response to the oil spill, general information for the public
and updates for the media.
Fact Sheet on Volunteer Programs
As part of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Volunteer Plan, state volunteer
coordinating organizations in each of the four Gulf of Mexico states are
charged with leading volunteer efforts in their respective states.
NOAA Reopens More than 5,000 Square Miles of
Closed Gulf Fishing Area
- Aug. 27, 2010 Today NOAA reopened 4,281 square miles
of Gulf waters off western Louisiana to commercial and recreational
fishing. The reopening was announced after consultation with FDA and
under a re-opening
protocol agreed to by NOAA, the FDA, and the Gulf states. On
July 18, NOAA data showed no oil in the area. Light sheen was
observed on July 29, but none since. Trajectory models show the area
is at a low risk for future exposure to oil, and fish caught in the
area and tested by NOAA experts have shown no signs of
contamination.
Map of Current Closed Area with Reopened
Area Highlighted
re-opening protocol
agreed to by NOAA, the FDA, and the Gulf states. Since July 3, NOAA
data have shown no oil in the area, and United States Coast Guard
observers flying over the area in the last 30 days have also not
observed any oil. Trajectory models show the area is at a low risk
for future exposure to oil and, most importantly, fish caught in the
area and tested by NOAA experts have shown no signs of
contamination.
Federal Science
Report Details Fate of Oil from BP Spill -
Aug. 4, 2010
The vast majority of the oil from the BP oil spill has either
evaporated or been burned, skimmed, recovered from the wellhead or
dispersed – much of which is in the process of being degraded. A
significant amount of this is the direct result of the robust
federal response efforts. A third (33 percent) of the total amount
of oil released in the Deepwater Horizon/BP spill was captured or
mitigated by the Unified Command recovery operations, including
burning, skimming, chemical dispersion and direct recovery from the
wellhead, according to a federal science
report
released today.
Second
Federal Analysis Gives Further Clues about Location and Movement of
Subsurface Oil- July 23, 2010
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the White House Office of
Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) today released its second
peer-reviewed, analytical
summary report about subsurface
oil monitoring in the Gulf of Mexico. The report contains
preliminary data collected at 227 sampling stations extending from
one to 52 kilometers from the Deepwater Horizon/BP wellhead.
NOAA will re-open 26,388 square
miles of
Gulf waters to commercial and recreational fishing on Thursday. The
reopening of a third of the overall closed area was announced after
consultation with FDA and under a re-opening protocol agreed to by
NOAA, the FDA, and the Gulf states. Since
mid-June, NOAA data have shown no oil in the area, and United States
Coast Guard observers flying over the area in last 30 days have also
not observed any oil. Additionally, trajectory models show the area
is at a low risk for future exposure to oil, and fish caught in the
area and tested by NOAA experts have shown no signs of
contamination.
NOAA and Coast Guard Actively Enforcing Gulf
of Mexico Closed Fishing Area- July 22, 2010
NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) and the U.S. Coast Guard
continue to actively enforce the law in federal waters that have
been closed to fishing to balance economic and public health needs
as a result of the BP oil spill. Since the first closure was
announced on May 2, the agencies have worked together to patrol
waters and docks to identify violations associated with the closure,
leading fishermen to abandon catches to prevent potentially tainted
seafood from entering U.S. seafood markets.
Current revisions to the closure
will be effective on
July 12, 2010 at 6 p.m.
eastern time(5 p.m. central time). All commercial and
recreational fishing including catch and release is prohibited in
the closed area; however, transit through the area is allowed. The
new closure measures 84,101 sq mi (217,821 sq km) and covers about
35% of the Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone. The majority of
federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico are open to commercial and
recreational fishing.
NOAA Expands
Fishing Closed Area in Gulf of Mexico- July 4, 2010 NOAA
has expanded the closed fishing area in the Gulf of Mexico to include portions of the
oil slick moving beyond the area’s current northwestern boundary,
off the Louisiana federal-state waterline. This boundary was moved
westward off Vermilion Bay. This
federal closure does not apply to any state waters. Closing fishing
in these areas is a precautionary measure to ensure that seafood
from the Gulf will remain safe for consumers. The closed area now
represents 81,181 square miles, which is approximately 33.5 percent
of Gulf of Mexico federal waters. This leaves more than 66 percent
of Gulf federal waters available for fishing. The closure will be
effective at 6:00 p.m. EDT.
NOAA Expands
Fishing Closed Area in Gulf of Mexico- June 28, 2010
NOAA has expanded the closed fishing area in the Gulf of Mexico
to include portions
of the oil slick moving beyond the area’s current northern boundary,
off the Florida panhandle’s federal-state waterline. This boundary
was moved eastward to Cape San Blas. This
federal closure does not apply to any state waters. Closing fishing
in these areas is a precautionary measure to ensure that seafood
from the Gulf will remain safe for consumers. The
closed area now represents 80,228 square miles, which is
approximately 33.2 percent of Gulf of Mexico federal waters. This
leaves more than 66 percent of Gulf federal waters available for
fishing. The closure will be effective at 6:00 p.m. EDT.
NOAA Opens More
Than 8,000 Square Miles of Closed Fishing Area in Gulf of Mexico- June 23, 2010 NOAA has opened more than 8,000
square miles of previously closed fishing area in the Gulf of
Mexico, because the agency has not observed oil in the area. The
most significant opening is an area due south of Mississippi which
was closed Monday, June 21. Additionally, some smaller areas were
opened off the Louisiana and central Florida coasts. These areas
were initially closed as a precaution because oil was projected to
be within those areas over the next few days. However, the review of
satellite imagery, radar and aerial data indicated that oil had not
moved into these areas.
NOAA Expands
Fishing Closed Area in Gulf of Mexico- June 21, 2010
NOAA has expanded the closed fishing area in the Gulf of Mexico
to
include areas where the oil slick is moving beyond the current
boundaries off of the Florida panhandle and due south of
Mississippi. This federal closure does
not apply to any state waters. Closing fishing in the designated
areas is a precautionary measure to ensure that seafood from the
Gulf will remain safe for consumers.
The closed area now represents
86,985square
miles, which is approximately 36
percent of Gulf of Mexico federal waters.
NOAA Expands
Fishing Closed Area in Gulf of Mexico- June 16, 2010 NOAA
has expanded the closed fishing area in the Gulf of Mexico to capture portions of the
oil slick moving beyond the area’s current northern boundary, off
the Florida panhandle’s federal-state waterline. This boundary was
moved to Panama City Beach. This
federal closure does not apply to any state waters. Closing fishing
in these areas is a precautionary measure to ensure that seafood
from the Gulf will remain safe for consumers.
The closed area now represents 80,806 square miles, which is
approximately 33.4 percent of Gulf of Mexico federal waters.
NOAA Opens 339
Square-Mile Fishing Area in Gulf of Mexico - June 7,
2010
NOAA has opened 339 square miles of previously closed fishing area
off the Florida panhandle – the northern boundary now ends at the
Florida federal-state water line on the east side of Choctawhatchee
Bay. This area was initially closed on June 5 as a precaution because oil was
projected to be within the area over the next 48 hours. However, the
review of satellite imagery, radar and aerial data indicated that
oil had not moved into the area.
NOAA has
opened more than 16,000 square miles of previously closed fishing
area off the Florida coast. The
most significant opening is a 13,653-square mile area just west of
the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas. It was initially closed on June
2 as a precaution because oil was projected to be within the area
over the next 48 hours. However, the review of satellite imagery,
radar and aerial data indicated that oil had not moved into the
area.
Modification to
Fisheries Closed Area in the Gulf of Mexico -
June 2, 2010 NOAA has
expanded some boundaries of the closed fishing area in the Gulf of
Mexico to capture
portions of the slick moving beyond the current boundaries – the
most significant expansion includes an area off southwest Florida
that covers waters just to the west of the Dry Tortugas.
Additionally, the agency reopened a 2,637 square mile area of the
western-most boundary south of Louisiana. Oil was projected to be in
this area, but was never actually observed there.
This
federal closure does not apply to any state waters. Closing fishing
in these areas is a precautionary measure to ensure that seafood
from the Gulf will remain safe for consumers.
Modification to
Fisheries Closed Area in the Gulf of Mexico -
May 28, 2010 NOAA Fisheries is extending the northern boundary of
the closure area to
encompass a portion of the slick moving toward the state-federal
water line
off eastern Mississippi/W. Alabama. The new closure map is posted
online at
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov. The new closure measures 61,854 sq mi
(60,200 sq km), or about 26% of the GOM EEZ, a slight increase above
the last modification issued last Friday. However, this extension
coincides with the June 1 opening of the Gulf of Mexico recreational
red snapper season, and will affect some areas targeted by charter
boat captains and private anglers. A press release referencing these
impacts will be posted at www.noaa.gov.
Modification to
Fisheries Closed Area in the Gulf of Mexico -
May 28, 2010
NOAA Fisheries has extended the eastern and southern boundaries of
the fishery closure to encompass a substantial mass of noncontiguous
sheen
crossing the eastern edge of the current boundary and the projected
movement of a small portion of the slick outside the southern
boundary.
The new closure area will become effective at 6 pm Eastern time
tonight (May 28, 2010).
The new closure measures 60,683 sq mi (157,169 sq km), which is
about
25% of the GOM EEZ, compared to the May 25 closure comprising 54,096
sq
mi (140,109 sq km), which was slightly more than 22%.
May 25, 2010 NOAA Fisheries has modified the closed area to fishing
in the Gulf, extending
the western-most boundary to match the Louisiana state waters
closure, and
the southwestern boundary, to incorporate an area reportedly with
oil.
Closing fishing in these areas is a precautionary measure to ensure
that
seafood from the Gulf will remain safe for consumers.
The closed area now represents 54,096 square miles, which is
slightly more
than 22 percent of the Gulf of Mexico federal waters. This leaves
approximately more than 77 percent still open for fishing. The
closure will
take effect at 6pm EDT tonight.
LDWF re-opens State Territorial Seas south of
Marsh Island to Recreational and Commercial Fishing- May 23, 2010
LDWF Secretary Robert Barham announced the following re-opening to
recreational and commercial fishing activities in portions of the
state territorial seas south of Marsh Island in Iberia and Vermilion
parishes effective May 23, 2010. This area was originally closed on
May 18, 2010 due to a confirmed report of oil on a small section of
the southern shoreline of Marsh Island. Since that time, no
additional oil has been reported from the area.
Modification to
Fisheries Closed Area in the Gulf of Mexico - May 18, 2010
NOAA Fisheries has expanded the eastern boundary of the closure to
encompass a substantial mass of scattered light sheen, which appears
to be entrained in a counter-clockwise eddy to the north of the loop
current. More than 80% of the GOM federal waters remain open for
fishing. The new closure measures 48,005 sq mi (124,333 sq km),
just under 20% GOM EEZ.
Modification to
Fisheries Closed Area in the Gulf of Mexico - May 18,
2010 This revised area comprises approximately 19 percent of federal
waters in the Gulf (just over 45,000 sq. mi.) and is in effect at
6pm this evening. Satellite imagery on May 17 indicates the main
bulk of oil is dozens of miles away from the loop current, but that
a small sheen of oil has been transported down close to the loop
current. Today's modification extends the fishing closure boundary
down to the loop current as a precautionary measure.
NOAA Modifies
Fishing Closed Areas in Gulf; 93 Percent Remains Open
- May 11, 2010 NOAA’s Fisheries Service has modified the area closed to
fishing in the Gulf of Mexico due to the BP oil spill, which will
include federal waters seaward of Louisiana state waters in the
vicinity of Timbalier Island to waters off Florida’s Choctawhatchee
Bay.
Fishing Closure Modified in
Oil-Affected Portions of the Gulf- May 6, 2010
NOAA Fisheries Service has modified the boundaries of the closed
fishing area in the Gulf of Mexico to better reflect the current
extent of oil pollution. All commercial and recreational fishing
including catch and release is prohibited in the closed area.
The closure will be in effect for 10 days, from May 7 through May
17, 2010, unless conditions allow NOAA Fisheries to terminate it
sooner. Visit
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov
for details.
Go to the left hand side of the page and click on the Fishery
Bulletins Link. Questions: Contact Cindy Meyer at 727-824-5305 or
Cynthia.Meyer@noaa.gov.
Update from Louisiana Senator David Vitter's
Office - May 5, 2010
Our office has received a significant number of calls and e-mails
from people all over the country wanting to help or get involved in
cleanup efforts for the oil spill in the Gulf. Also, we are working
to stay on top of BP as the situation is assessed and trying to
ensure that BP complies with its responsibility to stay involved and
assist as many affected Louisiana constituents as possible. There
are two program updates that fishermen and other affected parties
need to be aware of.
Conservationists prepare
for oil spill response - April 30, 2010 In
response to the tragic rig explosion and subsequent oil spill in the Gulf of
Mexico, Coastal Conservation Association chapters along the Gulf Coast have
offered assistance to state agencies as they enact plans for clean-up efforts.
Message from Eric C. Schwaab,
Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries -
April 30, 2010
We are all watching the unfolding oil spill
incident occurring in the
Gulf of Mexico and are deeply concerned over the anticipated impacts
this spill can have on marine life and the economies which rely on them.
I want to give you a brief summary of NOAA’s and Fisheries' full
engagement in the response process and provide you with a link to a web
page NOAA has established through its Office of Response and Restoration
where you can be kept informed of daily events.
