Marine life dramatically declined in Gulf of Mexico in years after BP oil spill, study finds

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🗞️ Driving the news: Marine populations in the Gulf of Mexico’s deep-water “twilight zone” suffered severe and persistent declines following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, according to a new study published in PNAS
• Researchers found that fish populations fell by 63.5%, crustaceans by 62%, and squid and octopuses by nearly 60% between 2011 and 2015
• Sampling through subsequent years found little sustained recovery

🔭 The context: The BP-operated well released approximately 134 million gallons of oil over nearly five months
• Researchers compared net catches, sonar measurements and genetic evidence, while examining other possible explanations, including temperature, oxygen levels and food availability
• These factors did not explain the observed declines, leading the team to identify the spill as the most likely cause, although the researchers said they could not prove a definitive causal link
• Oil and chemical dispersants may both have contributed to the damage

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The deep ocean supports interconnected food webs, and the loss of foundational species such as krill and lanternfish can affect predators throughout the ecosystem
• The findings highlight the potentially long-lasting consequences of offshore oil spills and the environmental risks associated with expanding industrial activity in deep waters

⏭️ What’s next: Scientists are urging greater attention to poorly understood deep-sea ecosystems as governments and industries consider further offshore drilling and deep-sea mining
• The study also raises questions about the use of chemical dispersants during future oil-spill responses

💬 One quote: “These are foundational species,” said lead author Tracey Sutton. “They’re the things most things eat.”

📈 One stat: 72% — the reported decline in krill populations, a key food source for whales and other marine animals.

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