Gulf Oil Spill: You Just Can't Polish a Turd

When it comes to oil spills, where and when the spill occurs is as important in assessing the damage as how much and what kind of oil has gushed out.  That's why a recent article in the NYT emphasizing why the spill may not be as bad as previous ones is so frustrating (besides the questionable sourcing): the spill may not be the largest ever (though we don't know that yet), and lucky winds and currents may keep some oil offshore, but the damage is still likely to be tremendous. In the case of the Deep Horizon leak, oil is gushing near wildlife refuges and some of the most productive fisheries we've got, and during the season when wildlife is most vulnerable: Spring, the time of breeding and spawning and hatching. Given these circumstances, now is not the time to be toning down the response—it is a time to push hard to prevent any future potential for this kind of devastation from ever happening again.

As several recent articles have pointed out, including another from the NYT, oil doesn't have to reach the shore to cause significant damage to the environment.  Some of the biggest impacts could be happening at sea, where they are hardest for us to detect. These include ingestion of oil by tiny plankton—the base of the food web—which can die or pass the contamination up to other animals, such as fish.

Also at risk are dozens of species that at this time of year release their eggs to hatch and float for weeks at the surface, right where the greasy grime glistens.  These include blue crabs—crab cakes with a side of crude anyone?—and already-threatened Atlantic Bluefin tuna, which only spawn in the Gulf and happen to be spawning right now. And, 'tis the season when shrimp—America's favorite seafood—move offshore, heading right for the slicks.

Early life stages such as eggs and larvae are particularly vulnerable to contamination— and make vulnerable the over 600 million dollar commercial fishing industries that depend upon them, as well as the hundreds of other species that rely on larvae for food.

Marine mammals can also suffer while at sea: inhalation of fumes from oil slicks can disorient dolphins and whales, making them sluggish and can lead to drowning. Seabirds, turtles, and other wildlife that comes to the surface also have high chances of becoming coated in oil, ingesting it, or breathing in fumes—all of which can be fatal.

Chemical dispersants can also be harmful to marine life and so far, this spill is leading the charge in terms of the amount of dispersants dispensed.

If the oil does reach shore, than a whole other host of animals can be affected, including large colonies of nesting birds that gather in the Gulf this time of year.

So, despite the fact that the spill may not reach proportions of Valdez or the Persian Gulf—there are plenty of reasons to why the spill is already a disaster. Every precaution and action should be taken to prepare for massive wildlife rehabilitation, environmental restoration, and economic support of the local communities.  As the old saying goes, expect the worst, hope for the best. If BP had planned for the worst in the first place, this may never have happened. You can find out more information about the spill and its environmental effects, here and the NOAA site.

Photo credit: NASA Goddard