NOAA broadens fishing ban in the Gulf

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expanded the closed fishing area in the Gulf of Mexico earlier this week to include portions of the oil slick moving beyond the area's current northwestern boundary off the Louisiana federal-state waterline.

This boundary was moved westward of Holly Beach, La., and is approximately 17 statute miles from the Louisiana-Texas border.

NOAA also opened approximately 174 square miles of the closed fishing area south of Louisiana, as this area was not impacted or projected to be impacted by oil.

As of Tuesday, the closed area represents 83,927 square miles, which is approximately 35 percent of Gulf of Mexico federal waters.