Article #9: 10 Animals Most At Risk from Gulf Oil Spill

Back in 2010, the Gulf of Mexico experienced an oil spill that had affected many of the marine species that inhabit the Gulf. The oil spill was caused by the sinking of an oil rig and occurred over a long time span.  The timing of the event couldn't have been worse for the marine species that live in the Gulf of Mexico, that time period was the peak spawning and nesting time for many different species of fish, mammals, turtles and birds. Many of these animals have set breeding areas and they would see no reason to move away, even if they happened to be in danger.  The oil spill had long lasting affects on the animals as well as the people who harvest them.  Some of the different species that were affected during this oil spill were  the north Atlantic blue fin tuna, sea turtles, sharks, marine mammals and brown pelicans.  These are only a few of the animals that were affected, and losing them to this oil spill had affects on us as well.  The north Atlantic blue fin tuna is a very valuable food source for anybody who enjoys sea food, and the Gulf oil spill could have affected their spawning season in 2010 which normally occurs between April and June.  Sea turtles often migrate through the Gulf of Mexico where they will stop to breed, the oil spill put them in danger of losing their breeding and feeding grounds. The oil sitting on top of the water wasn't the only threat to certain marine mammals, it was the toxins that the oil put into the air that the marine mammals would eventually breathe in.  All of the marine mammals in that area of the Gulf were at potential danger of decreasing in number.    

Drapkin, Julia K. "10 Animals Most At Risk from Gulf Oil Spill." CBSNews. CBS Interactive. 15 Apr. 2013 http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20003738-503543.html.

The oil spill that occurred in 2010 was a major event of that year, everyone seemed to be concerned about gas prices but not so much with what it was causing to the ocean.  I think that the affect that the oil spill had on the ocean in that region was a big issue.  Now, after reading this article, I understand some of the many dangers that this oil spill caused to many of its inhabitants.  Since the Gulf of Mexico is a major breeding ground for many different marine species they were all at threat of losing their lives as well as their offspring, which could in a way really affect us as well (regarding sea food).