Damage to Oyster Beds

Oil that reached the Gulf's estuarine waters forced closures of and likely damaged substantial tracts of Louisiana oyster beds. Attempts to keep oil away from estuaries by diverting water from the Mississippi River are also believed to have caused great damage to oyster beds.

Beyond their commercial import, oysters are a keystone species—an organism that exerts a shaping, disproportionate influence on its habitat and community. A single adult oyster can filter more than one gallon of water per hour, effectively removing impurities—including oil—from the water column. Oyster reefs established on an estuary’s muddy bottom can increase the surface area fifty-fold, creating intricate habitats for crabs, small fish, and other animals, which in turn sustain larger species.

When water temperatures warm in the late spring, female oysters release millions of eggs into the water column. The timing of the Macondo oil spill may have been detrimental to oyster reproduction and the spawning of many other species.

Submerged oil floating in the near shore water column poses potential threats to diverse shellfish and fish species. Although the impacts are not yet known, the presence of oil in the near shore environment has been documented.