Oil through the news: How fishing communities untouched by the oil were impacted by the most extensive oil spill ever documented in tropical oceans.

In 2019, Brazil experienced the largest environmental disaster on its coast and the most extensive oil spill ever recorded in tropical oceans, causing severe ecological, economic, and social impacts exacerbated by ineffective government response. The spill stretched for over 3000 km, affecting 11 states and more than 57 marine protected areas. Traditional fishing communities were among the most severely impacted, facing both contamination of coastal environments and widespread seafood safety concerns, which disrupted seafood trade. This study examines the socioeconomic impacts of the spill on fishing communities in Bahia by comparing a region directly affected by oil with one that was not. We analyzed fisheries landings data from 2015 to 2020, over 16,000 trips systematically recorded through a rare monitoring program that provided a robust empirical basis despite the absence of official statistics in Brazil since 2010. Quantitative analyses of fishing effort, first sale prices, and production destinations were complemented by 45 interviews with data collectors and fishers. Results show significant decreases in fishing effort in both regions, sharp price drops for high-value species, and reduced seafood sales, with more production retained for self-consumption. Interviews confirmed the oil spill's substantial impact on fishing activity and seafood commercialization. These findings highlight the urgent need for clear risk communication during environmental disasters and for compensation measures that extend beyond fishers in directly oiled areas to others in the seafood production chain, including processors and vendors.