HOUSTON, Texas - US officials closed commercial and recreational fishing in a large swathe of waters hit by the growing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said late on Sunday.

The affected waters, which span the coastlines of four states, are largely between the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana and Florida's Pensacola Bay, the NOAA said.

The ban took immediate effect and is in place for at least 10 days.

The US Gulf coast is a rich breeding ground for fish, crabs, oysters and shrimp and accounts for about 20 percent of the nation's total commercial seafood production. The shrimp and oyster supply, in particular, is heavily concentrated in the Gulf.

"Balancing economic and health concerns, this order closes just those areas that are affected by oil," NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco, said in a statement. "There should be no health risk in seafood currently in the marketplace."

Officials are working to prohibit harvesting from affected areas and to keep oiled seafood off the market.

Disruptions as a result of the spill could cost the fishing industry in Louisiana alone as much as $2.5 billion, according to financial research firm Bernstein.

In 2008, commercial fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico harvested more than one billion pounds of fish and shellfish out of the total 8.3 billion pounds, according to government statistics.

The massive and uncontrolled oil spill was caused by the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig after an explosion April 20 that killed 11 workers.

Reuters

(China Daily 05/04/2010 page12)