Commercial fishermen can now return to more bountiful waters to cast their lines. About 26,000 square miles has been reopened by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association after repeated tests showed there was no oil in the area. More than 88,000 square miles were closed to fishing since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded on April 20, killing 11 workers and unleashing millions of gallons of sludge into the Gulf.
Scientists collected samples of grouper, snapper, tuna and mahi-mahi within the reopened area and concluded there was no contamination from oil or dispersants. As per a commercial fisherman things will be normal and there will be more grouper shortly. Karen Bell, the owner of A.P. Bell Fish House in the historic Manatee County fishing town of Cortez Village, said her business has picked up since more fisheries opened.
Charter boat captain Kathe Fannon said Manatee locals have kept her business afloat this summer. Phil Conner, the manager of Holiday Seafood in Tarpon Springs, said he believes business will also bounce back now that more of the Gulf is open to fishing. Danny Deal, a fishing captain also based out of Madeira Beach, said he attempted a similar tactic, fishing 80 miles northwest of Pinellas County when most of the Gulf was still under federal restrictions.
