The Legacy of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster: 15 Years Later
Nonprofit ocean conservation organisation Oceana has shed light on the devastating aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, which marked its 15th anniversary on Easter Sunday, April 20.
The Deepwater Horizon disaster remains etched in history as the worst oil spill in US history, claiming the lives of 11 individuals in the rig explosion that triggered one of the most catastrophic environmental events the nation has ever witnessed.
For 87 harrowing days, oil spewed from the seafloor, releasing 134 million gallons into the Gulf of Mexico. Toxic sludge blanketed 1,300 miles of shoreline, from Texas to Florida, contaminating beaches, wetlands, and claiming the lives of tens of thousands of birds, sea turtles, and dolphins, among other marine species.
Oceana’s research unveiled that the oil spill’s deep-sea impact spanned an area nearly nine times larger than previously reported, encompassing 2,860 square kilometers of ocean—equivalent to almost 50 times the size of Manhattan. The spill’s repercussions also resulted in the loss of over 25,000 jobs and $2.3 billion in industry output.
The conservation organization highlighted alarming statistics, including a decline of up to 43% in small dolphin population densities and up to 31% in sperm whale populations. Cuvier’s beaked whales and Gervais’ beaked whales saw staggering declines of 75% and 83%, respectively. Some Gulf fish species, like white marlin, exhibited minimal to no signs of recovery.
Furthermore, Oceana’s findings revealed that US Coast Guard personnel involved in the cleanup efforts suffered from enduring endocrine and metabolic conditions.
“On this somber 15th anniversary, we are faced with renewed proposals to expand offshore drilling into uncharted and deeper territories, posing heightened risks of future calamities. Oceana urges lawmakers to reject any drilling expansion and safeguard our coasts from offshore drilling,” emphasized Oceana campaign director Joseph Gordon.
“This anniversary serves not only as a reminder of what was lost but as a rallying cry to protect what remains and advocate for a healthy Gulf free from dependency on fossil fuels,” added Breon Robinson, Southwest Louisiana/Southeast Texas organizer for Healthy Gulf.
Despite these pleas, the Department of the Interior’s Secretary, Doug Burgum, proceeded to launch the country’s 11th Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leasing program merely a day after Oceana’s report release.
Between 2010 and 2022, over 7,300 oil spills marred federal waters—an average of more than one spill daily during exploration, production, or transportation activities.
A poll conducted by Oceana in July 2024 unveiled that 64% of American voters endorse their elected representatives in safeguarding US coastlines from new offshore drilling, with similar backing from registered voters residing in coastal states (66%).