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Archive for May 19th, 2010
La.’s state bird, brown pelican, imperiled by oil
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on May 19th, 2010
Associated Press: Hounded by hunters and fishermen, driven to near-extinction by chemical pollution, the brown pelican has survived a century of human abuse -- only to face another challenge from the giant oil spill threatening to devastate the Gulf of Mexico marine environment. The odd-looking seabird with a distinctive pouch beneath its foot-long bill was removed from the federal endangered species list only last November. Now its recovery could be undermined by millions of gallons of oil polluting ...
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Fishing Ban Is Expanded as Spill’s Impact Becomes More Evident
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on May 19th, 2010
New York Times: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration greatly expanded the fishing ban in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday in response to spreading oil from the BP well blowout. The prohibited area now covers 19 percent of the gulf, nearly double what it was, according to the agency. Officials are already seeing some impact on fish and wildlife in the region. Rowan W. Gould, the acting director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, said 156 sea turtle fatalities had been recorded in the gulf ...
US oil spill in Loop Current ‘heading for Florida’
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on May 19th, 2010
Agence France-Presse: The Gulf of Mexico oil spill has entered the Loop Current, a powerful conveyor belt that flows clockwise around the Gulf towards Florida, the European Space Agency said Wednesday. Scientists monitoring the massive slick via ESA satellites say that oil has for the first time hit the current and is likely to reach Florida within six days. "We have visible proof that at least oil from the surface of the water has reached the current," said Bertrand Chapron, a scientist at the ...