The Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacted a highly productive area of crucial economic significance within the Gulf of Mexico. The first preliminary estimate of the spill’s impact on commercial fisheries was recently published by the Sea Around Us Project, led by post-doctoral fellow Ashley McCrea-Strub. Trends suggest that more than 20% of the average annual U.S. commercial catch in the Gulf has been affected by postspill fisheries closures, indicating a potential minimum loss in annual landed value of US$247 million. Lucrative shrimp, blue crab, menhaden, and oyster fisheries may be at greatest risk of economic losses. Read the full paper here.
Citation: A. McCrea-Strub, K. Kleisner, U. R. Sumaila, W. Swartz, R. Watson, D. Zeller & D. Pauly (2011): Potential Impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Commercial Fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, Fisheries, 36:7, 332-336.
