Gulf fishermen find increasing number of sick fish

From 9WAFB: Gulf fishermen find increasing number of sick fish
BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Commercial fishermen in the Gulf are worried that their livelihood could be coming to a screeching halt.

It's been more than a year since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and fishermen are still finding sick fish.

Gulf fishermen are seeing increased numbers of fish with sores, fin rot and infections. Professors at LSU have analyzed many of the diseased fish and think they may know the cause.

"We think from chronic exposure to some environmental stresser and I think the likely assumption that it has something to do with the spill is there," said Dr. Jim Cowan, a professor of oceanography at LSU.

Scientists are working on a comprehensive study of the fish. They'll catch and examine thousands of fish and try to pinpoint hot spots for the infections.

Meanwhile, fishermen continue to worry whether there will be enough healthy fish left to sell.