Commissioner of Food and Drugs at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Margaret Hamburg released three statements on Monday announcing the reopening of fishing waters off the coasts of Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Hamburg stated that the FDA is working in close coordination with state and federal partners in each state in order to ensure that seafood harvested from the newly opened waters is safe and free from oil contamination.
In Florida, the FDA has opened state waters off the Pensacola area to commercial fishing.
In Louisiana and Mississippi, the FDA has opened state waters that span from the Mississippi River Delta to the Mississippi state line including in the Mississippi Sound, from the mainland to the barrier islands, to commercial fishing.
“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,” Hamburg said in her statement.
The FDA stated that it will continue to work closely with partners in the Gulf states to reopen affected waters as quickly and safely as possible.
