British Petroleum – Perspectives on Gulf of Mexico’s Oil Spill
Introduction
The Deep Horizon oil spill caused by British Petrouleum’s improper operations in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, marked an environmental catastrophe, although BP has tried to minimize its effects and its outcomes. In her article, “BP’s Deep Secrets”, Julia Whitty investigates precisely the outcomes of the oil spill on a long term, focusing mostly on the Gulf ecosystem and following how are the flora and fauna from this area are affected by this catastrophe.
The current essay, based on Julia Whitty’s article will be supported by other sources that have treated this topic, in order to determine how did BP’s activity in the Gulf impacted the marine life from this region and how did this affected the entire region, at a more global level. Whitty’s article is at the basis of this paper, however it will investigate other materials which will be compared with the findings retrieved from Whitty’s study.
The interest in this topic comes as a natural concern for the environmental sustainability cause. Understanding the real outcomes of this devastating event is crucial for identifying solutions to cope with the further developments of the catastrophe. Knowing the implications and the predictions regarding how will the oil spill evolve, will contribute to determining the scientists in preparing researches to reduce the identified risks, minimizing like this the proportions of this event’s outcomes.
In developing this paper, there will be followed a research question: how do the studies and reports reflect the implications of the oil spill from Gulf of Mexico?
Summaries
Whitty’s research investigates how was the ecosystem from the Gulf of Mexico impacted by the oil spill from 2010, by conducting practical field studies to evaluate the flora and the fauna from the area: what remained, how did it changed as a result of interacting with chemical compounds released during the oil spill and how is the entire chain is or will be affected directly or indirectly, in time.
Witty’s article discusses about both the direct consequences of the oil spill (as such the death by oil of some marine species), or the indirect consequences (the way in which other marine species are influenced by the polluted waters in which they swim, or by the smaller species of fauna, or the local flora that was exposed to the oil).
The ecological impacts of the 2010 oil spill from the Gulf are analyzed by scholars in other articles, following different perspectives on this topic. As such, the Marine Mammal Commission assets how are the marine mammals influenced by this event, in order to propose regulations to monitor the oil and gas activities (2011).
On the other hand the Pew Environment Group, which in the paper “Potential Threats to Marine Life from Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill” also investigates the negative outcomes of the event, identifies however, opportunities in revitalizing the fishing in the area, based on a program of imposing a selection of the rare species that will be protected against fishing (2012).
Another article, written by Harold F. Upton for Congressional Research Service observes the environmental restoration of the Gulf area and of the marine species that constitute seafood for the inhabitants of the Gulf area, or the basis of the local commerce. The main focus of the article is on the recovery of the environment through supporting the Gulf’s ecosystem. However, a further discussion is on sustaining the fisheries and the local commerce by establishing measures to restore the marine species (Upton, 2011).
Another article that treats the British Petroleum catastrophe is focused on the technological regulatory measures and changes that needs to be imposed in order cease the risk of the contamination in deeper water (Hagerty & Ramseur, 2010).
Discussion
The fact that there are so many studies dedicated to this topic, with different approaches on this matter indicates that the subject is significant at a global level. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill did not solely cause the most severe hit in the Gulf of Mexico’s environment, negatively affecting the lives of the inhabitants and their local businesses, but it represents a major setback in the process of developing sustainable activities for protecting the environment.
This event has various implications at global economic, social, financial, legal, even political level, hence the topic is highly important for the general public awareness of people all around the world. Everybody needs to understand what is happening around them and the environmental awareness is not an option anymore, is a mandatory concern, which should become a responsibility for each one of us.
The analyzed researches provide a more in – depth understanding of the problem, exploring specific scientific, technological, legal or political aspects related to a case that has made a trip throughout the world. Some of the studies analyzed offer a high transparency upon the real implications of the event, while others limit in providing general, lapidary information regarding possible outcomes of the oil spill.
As such, Wittey’s article, focused on presenting the evolution of the marine species, after the oil spill from the Gulf is very specific, is presenting the scientific researchers developed for assessing the ecosystem’s development as a result of its interaction with chemical, harmful compounds. However, although the information provided are detailed and precise, they are somehow too technical for the common reader.
On the other hand, the report developed by PewEnvironment Group lack the substantiality of the information. Although the ideas presented are interesting (finding an opportunity in resuscitating the fishing in the Gulf by establishing the selective fishing), there is sensed the need to require for more details regarding the procedures and the legal basis that will make this opportunity possible.
In general, the analyzed research and studies pull an alarm signal on public opinion and on the specialized agencies to not minimize the impact of the Gulf disaster and to evaluate its full consequences and implications, in order to forecast potential additional risks that might occur in time and prevent them or reduce their impact as much as possible.
Recommendations
The analyzed studies have indicated various approaches on this subject. However, as they follow different views upon the oil spill, there are not necessary contradictions between the information provided in the studies. What would have been needed in the analyzed articles is more visibility on the legal and political implications needed to be imposed as a learned lesson after this oil spill case.
In fact, based on the existent researches, which follow different angles of the story, there should be further researched what have the oil and gas companies implemented in their working procedures and practices in order to avoid such an event, at a similar magnitude, to ever occur.
Finally, for providing a complete answer for my research question, I would have liked to find an article with BP’s official position regarding the information provided in the analyzed research and studies.
References
Hagerty, C., L. & Ramseur, J. L. (2010) Deepwater horizon oil spill. Congressional Research Service.
Marine Mammal Commission (2011) Assessing the long – term effects of the BP deepwater horizon oil spill on marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine Mammal Commission: Maryland.
Pew Environment Group (2012) Potential threats to marine life from deepwater horizon oil spill. Pew Environment Group.
Upton, H., F. (2011) The deepwater horizon oil spill and the Gulf of Mexico fishing industry. Congressional research Service.
Whitty, J. (2010) BP’s deep secrets. Mother Jones, pp 29 – 43.
