Gulf of Mexico Oil

[REBrueckner]

So first the oil spill caused by BP was covered up, then the media blew it all out of proportion, now I have the uneasy feeling both BP and the federal government have good reason (in their minds) to cover it up. You've probably seen the charts showing something like 3/4 of the oil "disappeared"...was it maybe 20% was recovered ?? (I'll try to find that chart and post it.)

For those boating in and around the Gulf, what do you see? What do you hear from fisherman, shrimpers, clam digfggers, scallopers? even anecdotal reports? I don't trust the mass media and would be VERY interested in first hand reports from sources here.

Clearly the shorelines and coastal wetlands have been seriously impacted, likely for years and decades. Apparently the EPA has approved most shrimp and fish catches,for example, but then the EPA also said Ground Zero air in NYC was safe after the 911 attacks...Any reports locally of toxic gas concentrations from the well?? Any reason not to boat there or fish offshore??

PS: I never learned as much about a Long Island Sound (NY) lobster kill one summer maybe ten years ago as I did taking with clam diggers and lobsterman while cruising...they knew the ordinances involved, the toxins, which government agencies were capable and which were not....I was VERY impressed.

 

[captddis]

You sound like the national enquirer. The water's great c'mon down.

 

[REBrueckner]

Here is one report I had not seen:

"...A plume of oil some 700 feet thick and at least 22 miles long has been detected deep beneath the Gulf of Mexico. It originated at the Deepwater Horizon blowout and consists of hydrocarbons from the well, according to measurements released Thursday.

The survey, conducted by US and Australian scientists during a 10-day research cruise in late June, represents the most detailed picture yet of undersea plumes of oil and methane from the Gulf oil spill. The researchers were surprised by the plume's relative stability as well as by an apparent lack of activity on the part of microbes to break down the oil.

The continuous plume appeared some 3,000 feet below the surface, according to data published Thursday afternoon in the journal Science's online outlet, Science Express......"

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environmen...ume-stretches-22-miles-not-breaking-down-much

 

[Vincentc]

What is the concentration of the "plume"
The NOAA report from a research vessel on site described a plume they detected which was less than 1 part per million of oil, which might have come from the DWH or might have been the result of a natural seep.

Every negative report I've read contained significant distortions. Positive reports are ignored and potentially negative ones are inflated and widely reported.

We have been fairly active boating in the area due North of DWH and the only direct evidence of oil I've seen has been small pancake like oil patties lying on the North shore of Horn Island.

The obsession with finding some enviromental cataclysm has to date caused far more harm than the oil leak. There was a tragedy on 4/11 when 11 men lost their lives. Since then nature has been working on the oil and if left alone the Gulf will, IMO, be just fine. I am hearing report from people I know of good fishing where allowed.