Gulf Coast marine life continues to show impairments from BP oil spill

Oil spill

Carol Forsloff---So what is it like for wildlife in the Gulf Coast these years after the BP oil spill that brought Federal officials, scientists and a host of citizens to focus on the environment?  The cleanup continues in some ways, and while superficially things may look better, experts say it's important to examine what has happened with a critical eye and not believe the job is over until the impact of the oil is seen with some perspective.

Scientists are now finding heart problems in tuna.  Stanford researchers have found heart defects in bluefin and yellowfin types of tuna that can lead to heart attacks.

"Nearly four years after the initial explosion, the impacts of the Gulf oil disaster continue to unfold," said Ryan Fikes, Gulf Restoration Scientist for the National Wildlife Federation. "Today we learned that BP oil can lead to heart attacks and death in tuna, and that similar cardiac impacts may have occurred in a number of other Gulf species. BP and the other responsible companies need to be held fully accountable for their negligence.  As research continues to confirm additional impacts from the oil disaster, it is imperative that penalties from the spill be dedicated to the restoration of the Gulf of Mexico."

Three years after the BP oil spill there remains evidence of damage on the ecological status of the Gulf Coast, as more than 650 dolphin carcasses have washed up on the shores since the oil disaster.  So while government agencies and oil executives claim that the coastline has resilience and the remarkable ability to be restored in such a short period of time, it turns out that more critical view is finding in studying marine life that there may indeed be continuing concerns for years to come.