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We are still providing the same quality experience on the Cajun Coast that you'd expect!
The Louisiana Office of Tourism, along with other state and federal government agencies and private sector entities, continue to work together to monitor the impact of the oil spill and cleanup efforts in the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent coastal waterways.
Most of the Louisiana Gulf Coast is unaffected by the oil spill and remains open for recreational fishing.
All Louisiana coastal parishes (counties) continue to offer travelers historic and cultural attractions, world-acclaimed indigenous food and music, and notable restaurants and overnight accommodations.
The oil well has been successfully capped with concrete. A government assessment of the spill has found that about 75 percent of the oil has been captured, burned off, evaporated or broken down by natural forces in the Gulf of Mexico, White House officials said last week.
The primary area affected by the spill is around the southeast coast of Louisiana. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast maps identify an "area of uncertainty" that extends around the origin of the spill.
Affected coastal areas, as well as areas of uncertainty, have been closed to commercial fishing by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in portions of Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany and Terrebonne parishes.
Most of the region around the mouth of the Mississippi River is open to recreational fishing.
Recreational and commercial fishing is unaffected off the coast of Cameron, Iberia, St. Mary and Vermilion parishes. Public beaches in Cameron Parish are unaffected and open for fishing and recreation. Some beaches on Grand Isle have been reopened by Jefferson Parish officials.
When LDWF receives reports of possible oil, the agency closes those areas and initiates field surveys and seafood testing with the intent to be as safe as possible. As test results come back clearing the area, effected waters are then reopened.
The LDWF has lifted a ban on recreational sports fishing in most areas closed in recent weeks because of the oil spill. The exception is areas that have oil present and where cleanup operations are underway. The ban was lifted in areas after extensive testing was not showing contamination of fish in areas previously closed.
For a map of current fishing closures, visit www.wlf.louisiana.gov/oilspill/map/fishing-closure.
Louisiana crawfish are a freshwater shellfish species and all commercial crawfish ponds and natural habitat are inland and away from threatened areas.
New Orleans foresees no disruption in guest service or any negative impacts on visitors.
Numerous health, environmental and fisheries agencies at the state and federal level continue to monitor and map affected and unaffected coastal and nearby inland areas daily, as they test seafood, soils and drinking water for safety and quality.
Official information is being posted by the response team (U.S. Coast Guard, Office of Homeland Security, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of the Interior, BP and Transocean) and updated several times each day at http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com and http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ .
You can also find up-to-date information, along with links to other resources such as volunteer opportunities, at http://emergency.louisiana.gov/ .
Please return to this page frequently as new information will be provided here as soon as it becomes available to the Office of Tourism.
News regarding Seafood Industry |
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