Organisms living in the Gulf of Mexico will take decades to recover from the damage caused by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, according to a new report.
The study, published in scientific journal PLoS One, warned that damage to creatures and life on the Gulf of Mexico seabed extended out to more than 50 square miles from the wellhead, with most damage caused within an 11 square mile area.
The research, part-funded by BP, will be used by the US government as it determines the costs the company will face in repairing the damage to the Gulf food chain.
The oil major is required to cover the clean-up costs and a portion of the damage under US law, but can challenge the findings in court proceedings, which are due to start next week.
The researchers, which included scientists from the University of Nevada, looked at samples taken from the seabed after the spill, which saw more than 190million gallons flood into the sea, in the first measure of how much deep-water damage was caused. damage.
“Early on there was a widespread expectation that there would be no effects in the deep sea, that the oil would float,” said report author Paul Montagna told Fuel Fix.
“What we found were effects for many miles.”
BP said the research had not provided data to support any suggestion that the impact of the spill would be felt for decades.
“In fact, the researchers acknowledge that little is known about recovery rates of these communities following an event such as this,” spokesman Jason Ryan said.