Effects on Fin Fish

Oil in the water column affects fish and other marine organisms through skin contact, breathing, or ingestion. How much oil they accumulate depends on its concentration in food, water, and sediments they encounter, time and exposure, and the characteristics of each species—particularly the extent of their fatty tissue.

By late September, when nearly 32,000 square miles of the Gulf were still closed to fishing, government officials made strong statements about the safety of seafood caught in reopened areas. Most commercial Gulf seafood species seem to have emerged from the oil spill without any clear evidence of taint or contamination. The real impact here is the reputational damage to Gulf seafood as a safe brand. Continued government testing, improvements in public outreach, and a coordinated marketing campaign may be needed to expedite its recovery. After several requests over several months, BP relented in early November and agreed to give Louisiana $48 million and Florida $20 million for seafood testing and marketing. As of early December, BP is considering a similar request from Alabama.