Oceana to Use ROVs To Help Everyone Know What’s Up in The Gulf Coast.

Oceana the launch of its 2010 Gulf of Mexico Expedition which is going to research the “long-term impacts” of Deepwater Horizon’s oil spill into the Gulf of Mexico.  Those impacts are simply if we are we screwing with our food chain really badly from this oil spill?  You Don’t want to be eating toxic fish!!!

Oceana is going to use “remotely operated vehicles (ROVs)”, divers and satellites to investigate the effects of oil in the Gulf.  They want to investigate the effects on the coral, fish, shark and other marine species.

Then they will report on their findings but at least we will know what’s up.  BTW, according to Oceana, 200 million gallons of oil spiiled into the Gulf since the explosion.  Now watch a BP commercial knowing that number in your head.  Thanks Oceana.

Oceana will also document areas that may be in danger if the oil is captured by sea currents and transported towards southern Florida or if another oil spill occurs in this area in the future. To date, an estimated 200 million gallons of oil has spilled into the Gulf since the explosion. 

“The Deepwater disaster is a horrible experiment on the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem,” said Pastor. “Oceana’s expedition will help to answer important questions about what is happening under the water in the Gulf.”

Oceana’s scientists from both sides of the Atlantic will begin their work in the Florida Keys before sailing into the Gulf. The scientists, directed by Dr. Michael Hirshfield, senior vice president for North America and chief scientist at Oceana, will work with professional divers, underwater photographers and videographers as well as two ROVs (one capable of descending up to 3,280 feet and filming in high-definition) to analyze the magnitude of the oil spill and its affect on sensitive habitats and marine species. Oceana will also tag several shark species, including whale and hammerhead sharks, to monitor their migration patterns and study their ability to avoid oil contaminated areas as well as take samples of water, fish larvae, plankton and adult fish.

“Most of the public’s attention has been on the visible oil on the surface of the Gulf and the beaches and marshes,” said Dr. Hirshfield. “Oceana wants the public to understand the impacts of the unseen, underwater oil that is damaging marine wildlife and habitats in the Gulf and will likely continue to do so for years to come.”

During the expedition, Oceana will collaborate with the National Aquarium as well as several U.S. universities, including the University of Miami. Oceana will also release reports in the coming weeks that describe the impacts of oil on marine species.

To learn more about the expedition, please visit http://www.Oceana.org. To learn more about Oceana’s campaign to stop the expansion of offshore drilling, please visit http://www.Oceana.org/stopthedrill.