liverock
RC Sponsor
With all the media attention to the oil disaster off of Louisiana the bad PR it has generated has people scared of Florida waters.
The truth is there is no oil contamination on the west coast of Florida, in fact the oil is more than 200 miles from the west coast.
I have been asked by the state to post this press release as the negative press and resulting concern from potential tourists has damaged the industry here. If you were planning on a vacation in Florida this summer, you are on for a good time at the beach.
I am on the water all the time and will be the first to let everybody know if anything changes here on the west coast of Florida.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 14, 2010
Emergency Operations Center ESF 14
(850) 921-0217
Liz Compton
mailto:comptol@doacs.state.fl.us
(850) 488-3022
FLORIDA EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT DEEPWATER HORIZON INCIDENT'S ECONOMIC
IMPACT ON TOURISM AND SEAFOOD INDUSTRY
-- Florida reminds residents and visitors that Florida's coasts are
clean and seafood is safe --
TALLAHASSEE -- State agency leaders are concerned that people across the
United States falsely believe the state has been impacted by oil from
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Florida's beaches and fishing grounds
remain open to residents and visitors to enjoy. Currently, there are no
impacts to Florida's more than 1,260 miles of coastline and 825 miles of
sandy beaches. Winds and currents continue to keep the oil plume away
from the Florida coast.
State officials want people to know that Florida's shores are clear and
open for business. Florida's emergency response agencies are diligently
working with BP as well as federal and local government officials to
protect our state for any potential impacts the Deepwater Horizon
incident may cause our state.
On May 7, 2010, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
modified and expanded the boundaries of the closed fishing area in
federal waters to better reflect the current location of the BP oil
spill, and extended the fishing restriction until May 17, 2010. The
closure affects commercial and recreational fishing in the oil-affected
area of the Gulf of Mexico, largely between Louisiana state waters at
the mouth of the Mississippi River to waters off Florida's Pensacola
Bay. State officials are concerned that the closure has given potential
visitors the impression that all gulf waters are impacted.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services officials remind
Floridians that all species harvested from the closure line to shore,
including grouper, snapper, golden tilefish, mullet, blue crab, oysters,
clams, flounder, sea trout, shrimp are safe. Stone crab season is in
effect until May 15 and is also not impacted by the ban.
State agencies including the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Department of
Health continue to collect and test water samples and shellfish to
establish baseline information and to ensure there are no problems in
area waters. Officials with these agencies continue to say they have no
intention of halting commercial and recreational fishing in Florida
until there is evidence that the action is necessary.
State officials are assuring residents and visitors they are closely
monitoring the situation and if there is any change in the status of
fishing in Florida, or if there are any environmental impacts the
information will be immediately released.
To view more information about Florida's response to the Deepwater
Horizon incident, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon or
follow http://www.Twitter.com/FLDEPalert
-30-
Emergency Operations Center ESF 14
(850) 921-0217
Liz Compton
mailto:comptol@doacs.state.fl.us
(850) 488-3022
Richard TBS:rollface::rollface::rollface:
The truth is there is no oil contamination on the west coast of Florida, in fact the oil is more than 200 miles from the west coast.
I have been asked by the state to post this press release as the negative press and resulting concern from potential tourists has damaged the industry here. If you were planning on a vacation in Florida this summer, you are on for a good time at the beach.
I am on the water all the time and will be the first to let everybody know if anything changes here on the west coast of Florida.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 14, 2010
Emergency Operations Center ESF 14
(850) 921-0217
Liz Compton
mailto:comptol@doacs.state.fl.us
(850) 488-3022
FLORIDA EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT DEEPWATER HORIZON INCIDENT'S ECONOMIC
IMPACT ON TOURISM AND SEAFOOD INDUSTRY
-- Florida reminds residents and visitors that Florida's coasts are
clean and seafood is safe --
TALLAHASSEE -- State agency leaders are concerned that people across the
United States falsely believe the state has been impacted by oil from
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Florida's beaches and fishing grounds
remain open to residents and visitors to enjoy. Currently, there are no
impacts to Florida's more than 1,260 miles of coastline and 825 miles of
sandy beaches. Winds and currents continue to keep the oil plume away
from the Florida coast.
State officials want people to know that Florida's shores are clear and
open for business. Florida's emergency response agencies are diligently
working with BP as well as federal and local government officials to
protect our state for any potential impacts the Deepwater Horizon
incident may cause our state.
On May 7, 2010, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
modified and expanded the boundaries of the closed fishing area in
federal waters to better reflect the current location of the BP oil
spill, and extended the fishing restriction until May 17, 2010. The
closure affects commercial and recreational fishing in the oil-affected
area of the Gulf of Mexico, largely between Louisiana state waters at
the mouth of the Mississippi River to waters off Florida's Pensacola
Bay. State officials are concerned that the closure has given potential
visitors the impression that all gulf waters are impacted.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services officials remind
Floridians that all species harvested from the closure line to shore,
including grouper, snapper, golden tilefish, mullet, blue crab, oysters,
clams, flounder, sea trout, shrimp are safe. Stone crab season is in
effect until May 15 and is also not impacted by the ban.
State agencies including the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Department of
Health continue to collect and test water samples and shellfish to
establish baseline information and to ensure there are no problems in
area waters. Officials with these agencies continue to say they have no
intention of halting commercial and recreational fishing in Florida
until there is evidence that the action is necessary.
State officials are assuring residents and visitors they are closely
monitoring the situation and if there is any change in the status of
fishing in Florida, or if there are any environmental impacts the
information will be immediately released.
To view more information about Florida's response to the Deepwater
Horizon incident, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon or
follow http://www.Twitter.com/FLDEPalert
-30-
Emergency Operations Center ESF 14
(850) 921-0217
Liz Compton
mailto:comptol@doacs.state.fl.us
(850) 488-3022
Richard TBS:rollface::rollface::rollface:
