More of Gulf closed to fishing because of spill

[May 08, 2010]  NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Federal officials have expanded an area that is off-limits to fishing because of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Friday an area from the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River to south of Pensacola, Fla., is now closed. NOAA spokeswoman Christine Patrick said the initial closure was 6,814 square miles and the new area is 10,807 square miles.

Late Thursday, Louisiana officials closed shrimping in state waters from South Pass of the Mississippi to the eastern shore of Four Bayous Pass just east of Grand Isle.

Earlier, state waters east of the Mississippi were closed to seafood harvesting.

[Associated Press]

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