U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke has declared a fishery disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. As of Monday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has closed nearly 20 percent of the commercial and recreational fisheries in the area because of the oil spill.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour requested the declaration, “based on the loss of access to many commercial fisheries and the existing and anticipated environmental damage from this unprecedented event.”
No loss estimates have been given and no specific action has been outlined at this point. BP is expected to cover all expenses involved with the spill however the Commerce Department has requested $20 million “as a backstop”.
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[...] Troubled Water BP’s massive oil spill has prompted US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to declare a fishery disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. [...]