Venezuela Oil Spill Contaminates Caribbean Bay

An oil spill from Venezuela's El Palito refinery has severely contaminated approximately 225 square kilometers (87 square miles) of the Golfe Triste and Morrocoy National Park, with reports indicating hydrocarbons washing ashore and affecting local fishing activities. Biologist Eduardo Klein noted that satellite images show the extensive slick, which has spread across beaches in Boca de Aroa, causing the death of marine life and raising concerns about the impact on local livelihoods. The state-owned PDVSA and the oil ministry have not yet commented on the incident. The El Palito refinery, Venezuela's smallest oil complex, has a history of operational issues, including multiple shutdowns and spills. Local fishermen expressed fears of economic repercussions due to the contamination, which threatens their fishing and tourism-dependent livelihoods. The spill, which began to spread around August 14, is part of a troubling trend of environmental degradation linked to aging infrastructure and mismanagement in Venezuela's petroleum sector.