BATON ROUGE - Louisiana auditors say Gulf oil spill recovery money intended for testing to ensure Louisiana fish were safe for consumers instead paid for unnecessary iPads, cameras, boats and now-missing fishing equipment.

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office describes the safety program as so mismanaged by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that it couldn't even declare if the catch was fit to eat.

Energy giant BP gave Louisiana millions for the program aimed at restoring confidence in the state's seafood industry after the 2010 spill. A draft audit obtained by The Associated Press suggests part of the money was misspent, along with other widespread financial issues in the department.

The former secretary of the agency, Robert Barham, says the draft report contains "factual errors" and he's drawing up a formal response.

Read more from the Assoicated Press HERE.