Florida - Agencies continue to monitor water quality to prevent unnecessary fishing bans

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CHARLIE CRIST SECRETARY MICHAEL W. SOLE DAVID HALSTEAD
Governor Florida Department of Environmental Protection State Coordinating Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MAY 5, 2010

CONTACT:

PUBLIC INFORMATION (ESF 14): (850) 921-0217

AGENCIES CONTINUE TO MONITOR WATER QUALITY TO PREVENT

UNNECESSARY FISHING BANS

TALLAHASSEE- -State agencies in Florida as well as several federal agencies

involved in the response to the Deepwater Horizon Incident in the Gulf of Mexico
continue to conduct tests, including sampling of water, fish, shellfish and habitats along
the Florida coastline and into the Gulf of Mexico.

Officials with the Florida Department of Agriculture, Department of Environmental

Protection (DEP) and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have indicated they
have no intention of halting commercial and recreational fishing in Florida until there is
evidence that the action is necessary.

?Florida seafood has not been impacted by this oil spill at all and is completely

safe,? said Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson. ?There
is no reason to take any action at this point and numerous agencies continue to monitor
the situation and take test samples and will ensure the integrity of any seafood product
being sold.?

While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has

temporarily closed off portions of federal waters from Louisiana to Pensacola to offshore
fishing, inshore waters have not been impacted by the action. The closure in the Florida
Panhandle impacts waters at least twenty miles from shore.

Currently, numerous species of seafood including grouper, shrimp, flounder and

swordfish as well as shellfish are safely being harvested in Florida waters and federal
waters not included in the temporary closure. At this time, there are no indications of
any health risks to Floridians due to the Deepwater Horizon incident. The Department of
Health (DOH) and DEP are closely monitoring health and environmental impacts to
Florida?s beaches and will notice an advisory if conditions become unsafe.

The movement of the oil spill is heavily dependent on weather conditions so it is

difficult to predict what will happen beyond about 72 hours. However, response
agencies have indicated that weather conditions have improved enough to facilitate
resuming applying dispersants and skimming operations.

The federal and state governments have strong systems in place to test and

monitor seafood safety and to prohibit harvesting from affected areas and keeping oiled
products out of the marketplace. NOAA Fisheries is working closely with the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration and the States to ensure seafood safety, by assessing whether
seafood is tainted or contaminated to levels that pose a risk to human health.

Agency leaders are concerned that misconceptions about the status of seafood

harvesting in Florida could have a devastating impact on the state?s vital seafood and
tourism industries. They want to ensure residents and visitors are getting the facts and
say if there is any change in the status of fishing in Florida, the information will be
immediately released.

For the most up-to-date information on Florida?s Deepwater Horizon response, as

well as health and safety tips, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon, follow us on
Twitter at www.Twitter.com/FLDEPAlert or contact the Florida Emergency Information

Line at 800-342-3557.