Disaster relief requested for Florida due to BP oil spill - New fishing closure announced

Image by Cosmic Smudge via Flickr

June 1, 7:27 PMFlorida East Coast Fishing ExaminerCapt. Ron Presley

During the Florida conference call today, June 1, 2010, it was unanimously decided to ask the government for a declaration of disaster for Florida. The action was supported unanimously by all stakeholders, including Florida Guides Association.


Senator Nelson has responded by sending a request for a disaster declaration for Florida. A similar declaration has already been made for the Gulf fisheries in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

Senator Nelson’s letter may be read at this link.

Capt. Pat Kelly, President of the Florida Guides Association reminded everyone, however, that "Florida is still The Fishing Capitol of the World and are fishing is not affected by the spill." There are a lot of misconceptions related to the ability to fish, but Florida waters have not been affected by the spill but fishermen have been. Tourists are not coming in the numbers they normally do even though the fishing is great!

New fishing closure takes about 31 percent of the Gulf

Today NOAA Fisheries has expanded the closed area to capture portions of

the slick moving into waters off eastern Alabama and the western tip of the Florida panhandle, as well as some large patches of sheen moving onto the west Florida shelf and southward to Cuban waters This new closure area will become effective at 6 PM Eastern June 1, 2010. The map and press release are posted online at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/deepwater_horizon_oil_spill.htm .

The new closure area measures 75,920 sq mi (196,633 sq km), or about 31%

of the GOM EEZ, compared to 26% identified in the last modification,

issued May 31, 2010, one day ago.