Fishing Resumes In Waters Fouled By Oil Spill
SANTA BARBARA (AP) — The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is allowing fishing to resume across 138 square miles of water off the Santa Barbara coast that was closed after last month's oil spill.
Fish and Wildlife officials said Monday they are reopening the area after word from scientists that consuming fish caught in those waters poses no threat to human health.
The May 19 spill occurred after an onshore pipeline operated by Texas-based Plains All American ruptured. It leaked up to 101,000 gallons of crude, fouling miles of coastline.
Fish and Wildlife officials say their scientists worked with their counterparts from the state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to determine fishing is safe again.
Scientists say they tested a broad range of finfish, shellfish and other marine life.
(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)