DELAWARE COAST- The oil spill still having an impact along the coast as cleanup efforts continued through the weekend, and is still on going. Reports of the oil traveling further south are coming in to DNREC, and maybe across state lines now. 55 tons of oiled up debris has been removed over the past week, nearly double the amount that was reported on Friday. DNREC says there have been reports as fat south as 101st Street in Ocean City. After an original assessment on Monday, DNREC said there was about five barrels worth of oil found along the coast. Now, the agency says that number could be larger than first reported. Jamie Bethard, the DNREC Emergency Response Chief said, "We're trying to determine a number but that was an original estimate looking at a 3/4 mile oiling right there on Broadkill." As for the impact to wildlife, the Coast Guard says 66 birds have been reported with oil on them. For fishing, one local fisherman says there are some things to keep an eye out for. Rich King, the Owner of Delaware Surf Fishing said, "As far as fishing and all, fish eat the fish and all that, crabbing it hasn't really gotten into the back bays it's in the Delaware Bay here and there but I mean if you pulled up some crabs and its got a tar ball stuck to it, I wouldn't steam that crab." DNREC says that mother nature has been cause for the oil continuing to spread south. "So as the wave action breaks it up, the wind moves it around, there's a lot of stuff out here that makes oil move, will eventually start to pull it out of the bay and then start to deposit on our ocean beaches," Bethard said. Officials rode down the coast today checking each area, and crews continue to pick up the tar and oil left behind. Cleanup continues on the coast as more oil is found each day. Lewes and Dewey Beach both remain closed, while Rehoboth Beach stays open, but continues to be in contact with DNREC.
