NOAA – September 2011

Natural resource trustees, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of the Interior, and trustee agencies from the states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, are leading efforts to assess and restore affected Gulf resources. The Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) is the process used to evaluate the impacts to natural resources and lost human use of those resources. The trustees continue to collect information on natural resources to assess potential impacts to fish, shellfish, marine mammals, turtles, birds, and other sensitive resources, as well as their habitat (e.g., wetlands, beaches, and coral). Lost recreational human uses, such as fishing, hunting, and beach enjoyment also are being assessed. For full report, click here.