Recent studies reveal alarming declines in dolphin and whale populations in the Gulf of Mexico, a decade after the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Researchers from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography utilized underwater microphones to analyze vocalizations of various cetacean species, finding significant drops in their numbers.
Key findings include:
Sperm whale populations may have decreased by up to 31%.
Certain dolphin populations have seen declines of approximately 43%.
Beaked whales, a deep-sea species, have suffered a staggering 83% decline.
The study, published in Nature Communications Earth and Environment, indicates that the anticipated recovery of these species has not occurred, contradicting earlier assessments of the spill's impact. The study's lead author, Kaitlin Frasier, emphasized the need for ongoing monitoring and conservation efforts to address these declines.
In a related incident, 32 dolphins have died in the Kerch Strait following a recent fuel oil spill from storm-damaged tankers. The Delfa Dolphin Rescue and Research Center noted that the majority of these cetaceans are from the endangered Azov species, highlighting the ongoing threats to marine life from human activities.
As cleanup efforts continue in both regions, the ecological ramifications of oil spills on marine mammals remain a critical concern.