Brazil oil spill leaves local fishermen in the lurch

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Thousands of fishermen make a living from the rich waters off Brazil's Bahia state. And now their livelihood is drying up.

A mysterious oil spill has sullied almost 250 beaches on Brazil's northeastern coast since the start of September, and consumers are avoiding fish and lobster for fear of contamination.

Brazil's Navy says the oil is scattered across 1,400 miles (2,250 kilometers). It believes it spilled from a ship — likely from Venezuela, though Veneuzela's government denies it's the source.

A survey of coral reefs by the Federal University of Bahia found oil in the digestive or respiratory systems of all 38 marine animals collected recently, including fish, crabs, bivalves and octopus.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.