Marine animals in the Gulf of Mexico have suffered a severe decline since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion. A study reports a 60% reduction in the region’s marine populations following the event. In the mid-water zone affected by the oil spill, fish numbers decreased by 63.5% between the spill and 2015. Crustaceans saw a 62% drop, while squid and octopuses declined by 59.7%, according to findings published in the journal PNAS. Recovery of these populations remains elusive, with minimal changes noted in recent years.
The Twilight Zone
The study focused on the Gulf’s “twilight zone,” a large area where creatures such as dolphins and whales feed. Despite its vastness, this zone lacked prior research before the oil spill. Dr. Tracey Sutton, a biological oceanographer at Nova Southeastern University, emphasized the significance of understanding this ecosystem. Post-spill studies utilized diverse techniques, including netting and acoustic sonar, revealing a significant reduction in sea life from 2011 to 2015.
We saw this big decline,
Sutton stated. The question was then why?
Sutton’s team investigated potential environmental causes, identifying the oil spill as the most likely factor due to the timing and lack of other explanations. Further sampling in subsequent years showed persistently low populations, despite slight increases in 2022 and 2023. These findings were supported by multiple data sources, including genetic studies highlighting reduced species diversity.
The Role of Oil and Dispersants
The study co-authored by Isabel Romero highlighted how oil and dispersants from the spill harmed marine life. While oil proved highly toxic, dispersants broke the oil into smaller droplets, increasing exposure for deeper-dwelling creatures. New research suggests adding oil-eating microbes could be more beneficial in future incidents.
Dr. Rita Colwell led a BP-funded program to explore the spill’s ramifications and emphasized these findings. Despite not establishing an explicit link, Sutton noted the logical implications of the spill as a root cause of the decline, evidenced by drastic reductions in foundational species such as krill and lanternfish.
Lessons from the Gulf’s Inner Ocean
Scientific exploration of the Gulf’s depths revealed essential connections across oceanic ecosystems. One of our biggest findings from the whole thing is how connected the whole oceanic Gulf is from top to bottom because the animals move up and down,
Sutton said.
Experts like Kaitlin Frasier from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Boris Worm of Dalhousie University expressed concern about the breadth and longevity of the spill’s impact. These insights emphasize the need for cautious consideration regarding deep-sea activities such as mining and drilling. The spill’s environmental consequences serve as a sobering reminder of the potential risks associated with human activities.
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