Louisiana oil spill: tragic consequences

Worst spill in US history

April 2010: The Louisiana oil spill looks set to be the worst in American history – with a potentially devastating effect on wildlife. Should the spill reach the shore it would be an environmental disaster of appalling proportions.

The spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a stark reminder that oil and gas exploration and drilling bring with them inherent environmental and human risks. It happened after an oil rig exploded and sank. Eleven workers are missing, presumed killed.

It is estimated that between 1,000 and 5,000 barrels of oil are gushing into the water every day and that it may take weeks to stop the flow. The spill now has a circumference of 600 miles and is within 20 miles of Louisiana, where it poses a huge threat to marine life.

The northern part of the Gulf of Mexico is a key spawning ground for the endangered Atlantic bluefin tuna, whose eggs float close to the surface of the sea. Bass, bream, catfish, speckled trout and flounder also thrive in the region.

Bobby Jindal, the Governor of Louisiana, called on the US Government for emergency assistance to prevent an environmental disaster as the slick threatened to hit fragile marshland along the coast today.

Endangered alligator, pelican and falcon all at risk

Louisiana contains 40 per cent of the United States’ wetlands, including the Delta National Wildlife Refuge at the mouth of the Mississippi, now perilously close to the spill. This 48,000 acre refuge is home the American alligator, the Brown Pelican – the state bird of Louisiana, the Arctic Peregrine Falcon and the Piping Plover – all threatened or endangered species, – as well as tens of thousands of wintering waterfowl, shore birds, fish and mammals. Several species of sea turtle are likely to be affected by the spill, which move through the Gulf of Mexico for their spring nesting season.

The US Coastguard is hoping that a controlled burn of the oil could limit the impact, and although wildlife may be affected by

the toxic fumes, environmental experts believe it would not have such a serious effect as the oil itself.

The Louisiana campaign director for America’s National Wildlife Federation, Karla Raettig, said: ‘A spill of this magnitude inevitably represents a serious threat to marine life in the vicinity and to the coastal areas where the oil may eventually wash up. We continue to monitor the spill and will work with state and federal agencies to help protect our coastal ecosystem from harm’s way.’

Coastline is already fragile

However, the Louisiana coast is already in a fragile state, having lost some 2,300 square miles of coastal wetlands since the 1930s.

“This area supports some of the most productive fisheries in the world, provides habitat for millions of migratory birds and many endangered or threatened wildlife species,” said Karla. “As industry and agency officials pursue aggressive containment and clean-up of the spill and monitor the leak, we urge our national leaders to make the investments needed to restore and strengthen this vital ecosystem, which supplies so much of our nation’s seafood and sustains our common wildlife heritage. This tragedy highlights the need for our nation to decrease its dependence on oil and move toward cleaner and safer alternatives that can strengthen our energy security, create millions of new jobs and protect our environment.”

Florida coastline threatened
If the threat to Louisiana’s coastline were not enough, there are also worries that Florida’s coast could also be affected. Leslie Straub, founder and director of Florida Wildlife Care, said it was breeding season for many of the state’s beach-nesting birds such as the tern and the black-necked stilt. An oil slick washing up on shore could kill off scores of unhatched or baby birds, some from species already threatened or endangered, she said.

As the encroachment of oil into coastal zones appears imminent, primary concerns include potential impacts to 20 coastal National Wildlife Refuges within the possible trajectory of the spill. In addition, this is the avian nesting season and sea turtle nesting season is approaching. Gulf sturgeon are congregating in coastal waters for upstream migration and manatees are migrating back into summer areas more widespread than winter gathering spots in warm springs. All of these resources could be affected by the spill.

Original article.