Federal Officials Expand Fishing Area After Being Closed Due to Oil Spill

Posted: May 18, 2010 11:13 AM by Chris Welty
Updated: May 18, 2010 11:13 AM

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Federal officials say they're expanding the
area of the Gulf of Mexico where fishing is shut down because of a
massive oil spill.
They had already shut down fishing from the Mississippi River to
the Florida Panhandle soon after an offshore oil rig exploded and
sank last month. About 7 percent of federal waters were affected.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced
Tuesday that it's expanding the closed area, though it won't say
exactly where until later in the day. Nearly 46,000 square miles,
or about 19 percent of federal waters, will be shut under the
expanded ban.
Dr. Jane Lubchenco of NOAA says the government will be testing
fish that is caught to make sure it's safe.

Topics: Federal, Officials, Expand, Fishing, Area, After, Being, Closed, Due, to, Oil, Spill