The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is expanding the area closed to fishing to better reflect the current location of the BP oil spill. Also, the time frame for the closure has also been extended to May 17th.
Still, NOAA is emphasizing the relatively small size of the closure, at just under 4.5 percent of the Gulf of Mexico federal waters. The original closure boundaries encompassed less than 3 percent.
That leaves the vast majority of Gulf waters still open to fishing, both commercial and recreational.
NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco says they’re listening to the concerns of fishermen, and are hopeful that the prescribed closures will help to actually keep the industry afloat.
Read the complete story at WJHG News Channel 7.