Several American agencies have joined forces to ensure contaminated seafood from the Gulf of Mexico doesn't find its way on to consumers' plates.
Health officials from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas have signed an agreement with several U.S. federal agencies including the Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency to ensure seafood pulled from the Gulf is safe to eat.
Crude oil has been pouring into the Gulf since the April 20 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig.
The deal calls for a uniform testing protocol and includes an agreement on when to close and reopen stretches of water to fishing.
"No single agency could adequately ensure the safety of seafood coming from the Gulf following this tragedy," said Eric Schwaab, assistant administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Photo by CBC News.