Drs. Steven Murawski and Donald Boesch recently published an overview of what we have learned through scientific investigation of the Macondo oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 https://theconversation.com/us/environment. Murawski and Boesch are noted authorities in marine science and their overview is well worth reading. Within days of the spill, really hours, media headlines were announcing the death of the Gulf of Mexico as a living, productive, sustainable resource. I challenged the profits of doom saying, “let the scientist complete their investigations before making such claims.”
Oil spilled in the Gulf of Mexico was not a new occurrence. Natural seeps release oil and gas constantly and likely have done so since the formation of the Gulf through geological processes. In 1942 more than 20 ships were sunk by German U-boats off the coast of Louisiana and another 20+ were sunk off of the southern coast of Florida. In 1979 the IXTOC spill in the Bay of Campeche flowed oil into the southern Gulf for 10 months. And, numerous catastrophic and chronic spills have occurred and are occurring. Through no fault of human efforts, the Gulf of Mexico has remained alive and productive. People are not dying at the water’s edge and fish are still plentiful in the markets.
Oil spills, catastrophic and chronic, are not good for the ocean and should be avoided at all cost. But, the world demands hydrocarbons for energy and manufactured products; and therein is the conflict. The second largest source of income for the U.S. federal government and most coastal state governments is revenues derived from oil and gas production. Hydrocarbon is the single most influential driver of the global economy and balance of power.
As the scientific investigations of the impact of the Macondo spill have demonstrated, oil spills have long-term impacts. But, the Gulf is still alive and productive. Logically, the ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico can absorb only limited human driven insult. There is a “straw that breaks the camel’s back;” unfortunately, science cannot yet tell us which straw will be the one.
Following Macondo the federal government moved forward with progressive guidelines and requirements to reduce the likelihood of another catastrophic spill. Over the last three years, these guidelines have been weakened due to political and economic pressure. I’ve heard Dr. Boesch on more than one occasion say this is wrong! I agree.
Right now, efforts are being developed to address one of the largest oil spills in history, that in the Niger delta of Nigeria. Simultaneously, large new oil fields are being developed in waters offshore of Gynana and the Bahamas. The world is oversupplied with oil and yet the push to find and develop more continues, slowing only when the per barrel price drops to unreasonable lows.
As long as there is market demand, oil will be produced. As long as oil provides the power base for countries such as Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S.A., oil will be produced. In response, the intense scientific studies of the impacts of spills such a Macondo need to continue, and guidelines, restrictions, and preparedness must be maintained.