more Absolutely Florida

Every day we see the effects of Deepwater Horizon oil spill – live, online – invading more of the Gulf of Mexico, inching ever closer to some of the finest, most pristine beaches in the world. A stretch of Pensacola Beach was the first to close. No one wants to party or bring the family to a beach that is covered in icky brown goo. And the smell – “foul” is a polite way to describe it. It’s certainly not conducive to spending time outdoors enjoying the delights of the Sunshine State.

Along the way, the oil is harming and killing wildlife and the environments that support them.

State tourism officials are worried and so are locals who love Florida and depend on travelers’ dollars for their livelihood.

Suddenly, deciding where to spend your vacation is a serious issue. Instead of “Did you pack the bathing suits,” it’s “do we need protective gear?” Rather than “don’t go out past waist deep,” will parents be admonishing their kids not to touch the tar balls on the beach?

Here’s a quick guide to what you need to know if you’re planning to visit Florida this year:

• So where is the oil, like right now? And how close is it to where I want to go?

The effects of the Deepwater Horizon spill have been felt – in the form of tar balls, tar patties and sheen – in Northwest Florida between Escambia and Walton Counties... so far. The oil is still on the move. Currents, weather
and other factors affect how fast the oil moves and where it goes.

The best place for up-to-the-minute information is the state’s website, www.visitflorida.com/florida_travel_advisory/.

How close is the oil to where you want to be? Depends. The state has 825 miles of beach and 1,260 miles of coastline. Only a relatively small part of the coast is affected.

The state’s official response to the spill can be found at: www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon.

• That stuff washing up on the beaches and swirling around in the Gulf looks pretty icky. It can’t be healthy – or safe – to be near that stuff, can it?

The state Department of Environmental Protection addresses health and safety concerns on its website at: www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/health.htm.

• I like to bait a hook when I come to Florida. Is it safe to fish?

About a third of U.S. waters in the Gulf of Mexico are closed to fishing. Sport fishing is a $5 billion industry in Florida and officials – not to mention captains and fishing guides – are worried. Even before the fish take your bait, there’s cause for concern. The larval stage of many species, including snapper, blue fin tuna, mahi, bill fish and Florida lobster, among others, spend time in waters affected by the spill.

For the latest information about fishing and wildlife, visit the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission site at www.myfwc.com/OilSpill/index.htm.

For beach of fishing closures, check the Department of Environmental Protection at dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/closures.htm.

• What about the seafood? Is it safe to eat?

For daily updates on the availability of Florida seafood products and what has been affected by the spill, visit the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services site at www.fl-seafood.com or call 800-357-4273.

• What can I do to help?

There has been tremendous support from volunteers – so much support, in fact, that officials do not anticipate needing out-of-state help. Still, you can contact Volunteer Florida at www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org to offer your assistance.

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