The Gulf Oil Spill and Your Florida Vacation

We know many of you are worried about how the Gulf oil spill will impact your summer vacation in Florida, and we would like to assure you that as of right now, everything is fine - our beaches are clear of oil and our water is safe. According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the oil spill is currently 316 miles from St. Petersburg, and the NOAA trajectory shows no oil landfall in Florida within the next 72 hours. Of course, things can change at the last minute, so we encourage you to stay up to date on coverage. We will do our best to give guests and future guests immediate updates and we encourage you to call us should you have any concerns or questions regarding your stay. In the mean time, here are a few pieces of information provided by the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Is it safe to visit the beach?

Currently, it is safe to swim in our Gulf waters and to be on the beach.

Can you eat seafood in your local restaurants?
Absolutely.  There should be no health risk in seafood currently in the marketplace.
And restaurants will not purchase or sell any seafood that may be contaminated by the oil spill.

Can you still go fishing?
Currently, fishing is safe. The NOAA is enacting emergency regulations to close a portion of the Gulf of Mexico Exclusive Economic Zone to all fishing, but at this point that closure is in affect for 10 days and extends only to waters off the coast of Pensacola. If oil enters our shores, fishing will become prohibited in the oil spill-affected waters.

What are some helpful resources for seeking up-to-date information on the spill?
Florida’s Deepwater Horizon Response - http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/