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Schwarzenegger bans fishing in S.F. Bay

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger banned fishing in San Francisco Bay Tuesday as the cleanup continued on a massive oil spill.

The executive order suspends the start of the crab season and bans fishing from Nov. 15 to Dec. 1 or until the time that the California Division of Fish and Game and health officials declare the bay safe.

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"Our priority must be getting the oil cleaned up as quickly as possible, rescuing all marine life and most importantly protecting the public health," the governor said.

About 58,000 gallons of bunker oil spilled on Wednesday when a Chinese container ship, the Cosco Busan, crashed into a tower on the Bay Bridge. By Tuesday, 12,845 gallons had been collected, 580 gallons had dispersed and 4,060 had been estimated to have evaporated.

The Coast Guard reported 53 ships were working in the bay, including six skimmers, and more than 1,500 people were employed on containment and cleanup.

More than 500 birds had been found dead and another 66 of the 715 rescued had died later or been euthanized. Experts say that the spill occurred at an especially bad time for migrating birds that winter in the bay and the Sacramento Delta.

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