ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — A day after reopening 5,130 square miles of federal waters off the coasts of Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle to commercial and recreational fishing, NOAA Fisheries reopened another 3,114-square-mile block in the north central Gulf at 5 p.m. Friday.

The area reopened Thursday is north of the 29-degree, 30-minute latitude, about 45 miles south of Alabama’s coastline. Visit http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/deepwater_horizon/BP_OilSpill_FisheryClosureMap_090210.pdf for a map of the area.

On Friday, the area south of the Pensacola to Panama City area — highlighted at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/deepwater_horizon/BP_OilSpill_FisheryClosureMap_090310.pdf — was reopened just in time for Labor Day fishing tournaments.

NOAA Fisheries collected shrimp and finfish samples from the areas that had been closed because of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Samples from the reopened areas passed sensory analysis and chemical analysis results were well below levels of concern.

Maj. Chris Blankenship, acting director of the Alabama Marine Resources Division, said all Alabama hunting and fishing licenses expired on Aug. 31, and 2010-2011 licenses must be purchased before attempting to fish or hunt. Visit www.outdooralabam.com for license information or call 888-848-6887 to purchase licenses by phone.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Parks, State Lands, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR visit www.outdooralabama.com.