BP has agreed to pay Florida $20 million over the next three years: $10 million will go toward paying for seafood inspections and the other half will be used for a marketing campaign geared toward restoring public confidence in the safety of seafood from the Gulf of Mexico.
Three months ago, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson sent a letter to BP President Bob Dudley detailing the additional costs the commissioner’s department will face to make sure seafood is safe because of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
“We believe this agreement is good for our citizens, good for both our commercial and recreational fishing industry and positive news for everyone who enjoys our seafood,” Bronson said in a press release on the Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services website.
The agreement says that the money could be extended three more years if fishing areas are closed because of oil spill contaminants.
Bronson had requested $59 million over 10 years before the oil spill was capped in July.
