Originally Posted By: Nicodemus
...when they questioned the Coast Guard about this they stated that the "order" came down from BP.

Sounds like something you'd read on a conspiracy theory website. It doesn't make any sense.

However, it could be that the Coast Guard may try to keep people away from fouled areas because the crude is a health hazard, which by the time it goes through the rumor mill, turns into "the CG told us not to take photos". <shrug>