Scientists to investigate suspected oil sightings in Bahamian waters

[sabra]

Source: The Tribune

SCIENTISTS and volunteers are expected to set out today on a five-day expedition to Cay Sal and Bimini to investigate sightings of suspected oil in the seas around the Bahamas from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) scientists and volunteers will take sediment samples and test them on the Defence Force vessel HMS Bahamas to confirm or deny the presence of oil in Bahamian waters.

The scientists include leading marine ecologist Dr Ethan Freid and marine biologist Kathleen Sealy from the IMO.

...

"The likelihood of fresh oil coming to the Bahamas is indeed remote. The oil is approaching 60 days old from the first spill. We are, according to all the best scientific information, likely to get oil that is weathered in the form of tar balls. What we do not know about is the expanse of the dispersense and what impact they would have and that's why we want to document the conditions in advance of any impact from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill so we can measure it going forward."

...

The Attorney General's office is exploring all legal options in the event the government has to seek recompense from any impact the BP oil disaster has on the Bahamas.

"We have taken the information we have to date, and the Attorney General's office is exploring all of legal options with respects to British Petroleum and the United Kingdom in the event we seek recompose from any disaster that hits the Bahamas. We hope that none does," the Minister added.

Read more: http://www.tribune242.com/21062010_nm-Deveauxonoilspill_news_pg1

[JuniperLea]

1. We need photos of the seafloor...

:cry:

We need to push for more photos of the devastation... no matter how chilling... we need to see them, and we need to spread them around for everyone to see.

:cry:

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Yeah, that was my first thought too.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. I'm also wondering what is to stop ships from entering the Gulf

and dumping their bilge to save money. With the mess that's already there, wouldn't it be difficult to trace it to the offending ship?

Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question...

[Nihil]

5. Not a dumb question at all - it has almost certainly happened already.

Remember the early reports of oil from Florida that were determined
not to have come from the BP source?

AFAIK, no other rigs were identified & blamed so the chance that it
was yet another passing ship taking "an opportune moment" is very high.

Whilst no-one would make a detour to do this, if they are already
tracking through the area ...

[fascisthunter]

4. this will sound very callous

but since the rich tend to visit the Bahamas more than most who can't afford to be there, maybe we shall see more pressure on BP. After all, rich or poor, people don't like to sea pristine blue-green water saturated with crude oil.