First oil spill-related beach advisories issued

MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST — The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and the Mississippi State Department of Health has issued beach advisories for two locations in Jackson and Harrison counties today.

This marks the first oil spill-related beach advisories issued in Mississippi.

The affected areas were observed to have significant amounts of tar balls, tar mats, mousse or sheen yesterday.

MDEQ and the Beach Monitoring Task Force recommend that people avoid contact with oil-related materials and to stay out of the water if these materials are visible.

These beaches are not closed and beach goers may continue to use these beaches, but the agencies advise people to be aware of their surroundings while recreating.

The advisories are issued for:

• Jackson County — the area from Main Street in the Belle Fountain area west to Seashore Avenue

• Harrison County — the area extends from Miramar Avenue west to Veterans Avenue