even trying to pick up all the oil. bp has been directed to meet a government set standard of less than 1% visible coverage. >> within that section and within that entire section of beach, there has to be less than 1% coverage. >> reporter: so out of every thousand feet of beach, you can still have ten feet of oil? >> yes. >> reporter: that sounds like a lot to me. >> it's the standard that was determined. >> well, now migratory birds are nesting on the still contaminated island and others in the gulf. a year ago, oil was thick on the surface in the marshes. today, now it's on the bottom. some beaches are suffering from chronic re-oiling, oil that washes back onto the shore. and many gulf businesses are still feeling it. even though tourism here in new orleans is vibrant, it's less on the shore.