More Gulf of Mexico fishing areas declared off limits because of massive oil spill

More Gulf of Mexico fishing areas off limits

ROBERT, La. — More federal fishing areas in the Gulf of Mexico have been declared off limits because of the massive oil spill.

Closing fishing is a precaution to ensure that seafood taken from the waters remain safe for consumers.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed Wednesday that the closed area represents more than 88,000 square miles. That is about 37 percent of Gulf of Mexico federal waters. It doesn’t affect state waters.

The most significant closure includes an area off southwest Florida that covers waters just to the west of the Dry Tortugas.

NOAA also says it has reopened a 2,600-square-mile area of south of Louisiana. Oil was projected to be there but was never observed.