Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reopened state waters offshore of Escambia County to the harvest of saltwater fish. The area had been closed in early June as a precautionary measure due to possible impacts of oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Oysters, clams and mussels were not included in the closure and remain open to harvest in this area. The area will remain closed to the harvest of shrimp and crabs, pending additional testing.
Margaret A. Hamburg, Commissioner of Food and Drugs Administration said that she was confident all appropriate steps had been taken to ensure that seafood harvested from the waters being opened were safe.
She also urged consumers to have confidence in eating and enjoying seafood.
"I have heard first-hand from commercial fishermen and seafood processors about not only the importance of getting back to their livelihoods, but also their commitment to protecting the health of their customers and making sure consumers have the most up-to-date and accurate information available.
"The fishermen and processors in the Gulf want to know that all of the proper protocols and testing methods were used to ensure that the seafood is safe. FDA is supporting Florida and Mississippi in this reopening as it is clear that all the proper protocol and methods were indeed followed."
State Waters Reopen To Commercial Fishing
US - Last week Florida reopened state waters off Pensacola to commercial fishing, whilst Mississippi reopened waters in the Mississippi Sound.
