BP-leased Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico was exploded and oil spill al over the area that killed 11 workers over a week ago. MCS expresses its growing concern about both the short and the long-term damage the continuing spill of oil will have on the area’s wildlife. MSC says the spill could severely affect turtle nesting beaches, fish and fish eggs, seabirds, shrimp fisheries and oyster farms in both the open sea, and in key wetland areas on coastlines which may suffer a greater long-term impact.
According to MCS the combination of the nature of habitats and the oceanography of the area, the quantity and type of the oil being leached, and the long-term toxic effects of large oil spills on both man and nature will all have a part to play on the effects of this environmental disaster.
The fuel is being leached from the seabed where it will be very complex, and costly to contain. MSC said that the heavier grade sections of this oil material will be most problematic – it will not evaporate, can’t be ‘burned off’, and will cause immediate damage to intertidal habitats, kill animals and plants living in sandy areas, and will smother seabirds.
MSC believe that the less obvious damage from the spill will come in the long-term effects on the whole ecology of the region. Effects will also be felt by people working in wildlife and there are at least two wildlife refuges that will be directly affected if the oil lands in significant quantities.
