I am very concerned with the long- term effects that the BP oil spill will have on the fishing industry. With all the oil burning, it is almost as if our ocean has picked up a smoking habit. The American Petroleum Institue reported that in-situ burning of oil on water under ideal circumstances can be very efficient, removing up to 90-98 percent of the oil that is contained for burning (2010). (API) Light oils such as diesel and fresh oils have the highest burn efficiencies; whereas, heavy crude oils, heavy refined products, and weathered oils tend to have lower burn efficiencies; even with high removal efficiencies, there is usually some residue left at the end of the burn (2010). Once the oil burns it creates a residue that can vary in density. The density depends on the type of oil, thickness, degree of weathering, and the efficiency of the burn (API, 2010).
According to Membrino, 2010, coral reefs in the areas next to the oil spill now have a brownish substance on them and are showing increased amounts of dead coral, while other areas are unaffected (2010). Now that a little time has passed we can see some of the long term effects of the oil spill, but it is still early. It is sad to see the fish habitats dying and turning black. The coral reefs are protected areas, but nothing could protect them from this.
Coral is very fragile and dies if any changes happen to the environment, even the slightest temperature change. These coral reefs will die and their fish along with it, and since each coral reef holds unique animals that can only be found on that coral reef, BP just caused extinctions.
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