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Some types of seafood may become scarce, but there are healthy alternatives.
RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is going to have long-lasting impacts on the region and one of its largest industries: seafood. Louisiana alone accounts for 80 percent of the seafood production from the Gulf of Mexico, and supplies the entire U.S. with 30 percent of the seafood we eat. And it isn't just the oil that's harming the area's shrimp, oysters, and crabs. So far, BP has applied approximately 200,000 gallons of chemical dispersant to break up the slick. As those chemicals are applied, they sink into the water and cause smaller droplets of oil to fall into places they may not normally go.
THE DETAILS: What exactly is in those chemical dispersants isn't known. But according to two data sheets published online by Transocean Ltd., the company that owns the Deepwater Horizon rig that was being leased by BP, the primary ingredients are 2-butoxyethanol and propylene glycol. Both chemicals can be toxic in high doses, but it remains unclear whether animals are being exposed to toxic levels.
The good news, says Chris Reddy, PhD, an oil-spill scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, is that neither chemical accumulates in fish and seafood. "Rarely are chemical dispersants more toxic than the oil itself," he says. "The people who respond to these oil spills and make the most informed decisions are the people in the command centers. They have one goal—to reduce damages. So any decision to use dispersants means that they that know the positives of using them far outweigh the risks."
But the chemical dispersants still have a negative impact on ecosystems, says Larry McKinney, PhD, executive director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies in Corpus Christi, Texas. "When they do use these chemicals, the oil doesn't disappear," he says. Small animals and larvae that might have escaped exposure to the larger slick are now being exposed to small oil droplets that could be fatal. Furthermore, "while the concentrations [of dispersant] they're using are probably low enough not to be lethal, there are clearly sublethal affects on fish reproduction."
WHAT IT MEANS: It really is too soon to know how this oil spill will affect the Gulf Coast ecosystem and the area's seafood industry. McKinney says that oil can be absorbed by fish and work its way up the food chain and back to our dinner plates, in much the same way mercury works its way up the food chain.
I think that it would be
I think that it would be really interesting to create such discussion with other this website visitors. Anyway thanks a lot one more time for
the great and informative publication.
Joney
This is such a great resource
This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing websites that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free. It’s the old what goes around comes around routine.
Micheal
It is such a shame that this
It is such a shame that this happened. Not only did this impact our sea life but the many lives of the people who depend on working in the fishing industry for their financial support and the people who live in these communities that were affected. The affects of this disaster will be felt in the future.
คอนโดมิเนียม
Surprised
I have to admit, it's been a while since the spill now and I really thought we would have seen a more dramatic rise in the price of seafood, but it has stayed pretty reasonable, all things considered.
plastic enclosures
Oil splits
Oil splits are always harmful for farmers. It is really tough to get rid of such affections. :(
apartments
Such a shame
It is such a shame that we let this happen to our planet. Who knows what diseases and ailments we've given to ourselves through the pollution we've caused on our planet. Thanks for bringing some light to this issue!
plastic material handling
Gulf Seafood
I definitely agree with Markus on this point. This is typical "change the topic" marketing from big corporations. Case in point, look at the new commercials from BP...we helped get the local seafood workers (restaurants & local fishermen) back to business as usual. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are reports of a 10 mile blob of something in the middle of the Gulf. Thanks | bail insurance
Time to re-think
Markus is right. It's time to stop protecting the local fishing industry when it couldn't be more obvious that it's a dying trade. That doesn't mean the fisherman aren't important, but it's time for some serious network virtualization; they can't continue to practice their archaic craft and not expect legitimate backlash as new discoveries relating to health are announced. I say we do what we can to find a happy medium- a way that the fishing industry can still survive without sacrificing the health of local residents. Suggestions?
RE: gulf seafood
TRACEY, please. The overall HEALTH issue is more important than any economic concerns of the local fisherman. Educate your populace to possibly not be so COZY with the chemical and oil industries... as they are CLEARLY NOT you friends. Good luck on that one. It is sad what has happened but SEAFOOD is DONE in that area for a looooong time. Denial isn't education.
..and YES I am a native.
gulf seafood
This is exactly what isn't needed for the survival of local fisherman in the gulf coast region. Why don't you educate the consumer about buying uneffected seafood not just eliminating the region.
They will need our support also.