Sea Turtle Impacts from Gulf Oil Spill

I listened to part of a news conference concerning the Oil Flow yesterday. Wildlife agencies reported 162 sea turtle deaths thus far related to the spill. This is nesting time for sea turtles along the Gulf Coast which makes this especially bad timing for the incident. This number doesn’t include deep water surveys but only those washed up on beaches.

There are five species of endangered and threatened sea turtles that live in the Gulf of Mexico. The loses experienced will not be recovered in my lifetime and that fact saddens me deeply.

It’s not great timing for other species as well. Grouper, amberjack, mahi-mahi, and pink and white shrimp are in their larval stages now, close to shore. The dispersants being used are known to kill larvae.  The oil doesn’t help them either. Offshore bluefin and yellowfin tuna are two of the pelagic species being greatly affected.

Thousands of species live in and around the Gulf of Mexico. The wildlife agencies anticipate long term effects as well as the short term issues already mentioned. Of special concern is the potential for tropical storms and/or hurricanes that could push the oil and dispersants into mangroves and salt marsh areas. It would take decades for the environment to recover.

I am actually grateful the audio file quit working as the more I listened the sicker I felt. The only thing I know to do is to document it and work to educate those who do not realize what’s going on….and yes, they are everywhere. I spoke with a physician two days ago that thought it was a tanker spill and the event was over. We have to keep this at the top of the news so effective changes can take place from this catastrophic event.