Quote:
Originally Posted by bkcunningham1
Today is June 21. I started this thread June 15. I have not received one reply. This morning I looked at the state websites and tourism sites for the states of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas. All of the sites say their beaches are open, Gulf tourism opportunities abound. Florida is the only state that said there was any sign of oil on a beach, one beach, but stresses the beaches are opened.
Louisiana has a report on oil seen off-shore from protected marshes and wetlands.
I'm not saying there isn't oil coming from the ocean floor. I'm not saying there isn't going to be any environmental issues from the oil. I'm just asking the same questions I asked in my original post. In the mean time, residents in the state of Florida are suing BP for loss of value on their homes from the spill.
Here are some things said about the Gulf from other threads. It doesn't make sense to me. I am seriously asking for your help to understand this. When people use words like this, I suppose they have seen or read something I haven't. I'd like to see what they have seen and read what they have read.
"Comparing an accident from gross and willful negligence that results in an
environmental catastrophe and wipes out the living of an
entire region... "
"The fisherman will be long out of business and the lives ruined ."
"An entire way of life is at jeopardy. It's not just about jobs or animals,it's about a way of life."
"An oil rig owned and operated by BP blew up and is causing what may be the worst ecological disaster in American history.".
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You raise an interesting point. It actually raises more questions than answers. I can't speak with any authority directly to your question, but permit me to cloud it further. I have fished the inshore and offshore waters of the New York Bight, the ocean from the Jersey coast East to the gulf stream and continental shelf and North to Long Island for many years. Over that period of time I have observed copious oil spills and heaven knows what other discharges from cargo ships, passenger ships, plane crashes, sinkings and yet to be determined human sources. For decades I have witnessed the occasional "tar balls" landing on our beautiful beaches and removed the tar from the souls of my feet while wishing ill upon the source that discharged the ingredients that made them. If you know the Jersey shore...you know what I'm talking about.
The attached link gives a modestly accurate assessment of what our oceans and sea life have been exposed to. The illegal discharge of oily ballast water, toxic exhaust fumes and oil spills have been continuous and unrelenting for years. What has been the net impact? One thing to keep in mind is that while we give oceans and vast bodies of water different names, they are all connected. Warm gulf stream waters from the Gulf of Mexico, meander around Florida, merge with the cool Atlantic waters, head North along the eastern seaboard to North Carolina, then, veer off the Northeast coast toward Europe. Fish usually found in gulf stream waters, ride the stream and current and can be caught with regularity in northern waters where the gulf stream is accessible. The IGFA has a fish tagging program. Fishermen tag and release their catch with the location of release. I am always amazed when fish caught in the coastal waters of one continent are recaptured and released off the shores of another. The point being....what happens in the Gulf of Mexico has worldwide implication. Very interesting link below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_pollution
I hope the White House doesn't read this. I would not want to be a co-conspirator for giving them the opportunity to justify yet another takeover. This time....the shipping and cruise industries.
While the consequences of the BP spill are of epic proportions and can't be good for our oceans and the bountiful harvest they produce for man....the question remains of what the net impact will be given the sheer volume of ocean water this planet is comprised of. How big a drop in a bucket of water is the BP spill? Can the oceans dilute and disperse the volume of oil and reduce its harmful effects by its volume? If so, how long will it take? Will the threat remain unseen but lethal to marine life offshore or will it hit our shores, estuaries and contaminate food and water sources?
In assessing the impact of the spill, it is the matter of scale and degree that is to date....elusive.
Sorry BK...wish I had more answers than questions.