Officials Dispute Claim of Oil in the Loop Current

KEYS TOURISM ADVISORY 10 May 13, 2010 • 4:30 PM EDT

News and Information From the Monroe County Tourist Development Council

Officials Dispute Claim of Oil in the Loop Current

Federal and local officials are disputing a Thursday report on a Keys radio station that oil has entered the Loop Current.

This morning on WWUS/U.S. 1 Radio, Dr. Mitch Roffer, publisher of Roffer's Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service, told News Director Bill Becker “a filament of oil is entering the Loop Current.”

He went on to say that the oil was headed to the Keys and should arrive there in two to three weeks.
Sean Morton, superintendent of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, said that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration analysis shows the oil north of the Loop Current.

Irene Toner, director of Monroe County Emergency Management, said her sources at the State of Florida Division of Emergency Management said early Thursday afternoon the oil was 80 miles north of the Loop Current.