Texas General Land Office’s Region 3 Oil Spill teams up with the U.S. Coast Guard and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on an education and prevention mission in Fulton Harbor
January falls in the middle of oyster season in Texas. This exciting time of year brings an increase in activity up and down the Texas Coast. As more commercial fishing vessels converge in areas like Fulton Harbor, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) is committed to ensuring the public is aware of the increased risk of oil spills. The GLO’s Region 3 Oil Spill staff recently teamed up with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) at Fulton Harbor on January 14, 2021 to monitor activity and proactively inform those on-board commercial fishing vessels on best practices for spill prevention.
The GLO deployed two vessels with Response Officers and USCG personnel to the harbor and open bay. These groups worked together to educate the fisherman on spill prevention practices and the local programs available in Aransas County. Meeting with these fishermen on the coast helped to reinforce the high expectations that we have in Texas for deterring oil spills and protecting marine life.
This mission also allowed our Response Team to educate the general public by distributing educational materials with the 24-hour oil spill phone number (800) 832–8224, and spill prevention flyers. Our team works hard to prevent oil spills, knowing that even the smallest spill can be detrimental to Texas’ natural resources. Ultimately, 15 responders from the GLO, the USCG and TCEQ participated in the successful patrol and education mission in Fulton Harbor.
Our team is as dedicated as ever to keeping our coast clean and Texans informed on the risks and prevention methods of oil spills and pollution
