Officials close fishing in parts of the Gulf to inspect oil - KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana

Officials close fishing in parts of the Gulf to inspect oil

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A large oil mat was found near Elmer's Island in Jefferson Parish (Source: Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana) A large oil mat was found near Elmer's Island in Jefferson Parish (Source: Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana)
BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has ordered fishing to be halted immediately in parts of the Gulf of Mexico.

The order was issued after response teams discovered a large oil mat and tar balls along parts of Louisiana's shoreline.

Officials said the oil mat was found in areas heavily or persistently impacted by oil from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill.

It is thicker than an oil sheen.

Fishing is discontinued from the Caminada pass to Belle pass in the Gulf of Mexico.

Secretary Robert Barham said the affected area is roughly between Grand Isle and Port Fourchon.

He added the decision to close that area to commercial and recreational fishing is out of an abundance of caution while the oil mat is inspected.

Barham said he did not know the immediate source of the oil but only that it bares attention.

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