US closes shrimping near oil spill site

November 25, 2010

AFP
US authorities have closed to shrimping a section of the Gulf of Mexico near the area of a massive oil spill this year as a precautionary measure after a commercial shrimper found tar balls in his net.
The National Oceanographic and Oceanic Administration said on Wednesday the area closed to royal red shrimping is 10,000 square kilometres of Gulf of Mexico federal waters off Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
"The precautionary measure was taken after a commercial shrimper, having hauled in his catch of the deep water shrimp, discovered tar balls in his net," the agency said in a statement.

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The action marked the first closing after more than 99 per cent of Gulf waters had reopened to fishing, as the area recovered from the huge BP oil spill capped in July.
NOAA said it was taking the action "out of an abundance of caution" and due to the nature of this type of shrimp fishing.
"Fishing for royal red shrimp is conducted by pulling fishing nets across the bottom of the ocean floor. The tar balls found in the catch may have been entrained in the net as it was dragged along the seafloor," NOAA said.
"Other fishing at shallower depths in this area has not turned up any tar balls and is thus not impacted by this closure. The fisherman who reported this catch had trawled for brown shrimp in shallow waters in a different portion of the area to be closed earlier in the day without seeing tar balls."
Over 229,000 square kilometres were once closed to fishing due to concerns over the devastating spill, which continues to impact the Gulf's environment and economy.