Oil Rigs Endanger Sperm Whales in the Gulf of Mexico
Chive Mynde
COLLEGE STATION, Texas, May 24, 2001 (ENS) - A breeding population of about 530
endangered sperm whales in the Gulf of Mexico may be feeling the effects of an
increase this year in deepwater oil and gas drilling.
Researchers have found that these whales frequent the deeper waters off the
Mississippi Delta in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico.
In a Texas Sea Grant funded project, Marine biologists Randall Davis and Bernd
Würsig at Texas A&M University at Galveston plan to learn more about these sperm
whales that live so close to the coast. They will use satellite tracking, direct
observation, genetic analysis and photographic identification to trace the
effect of oil drilling on the whales.
"Basically, we probably have a breeding population of endangered sperm whales
right in the middle of one of the hottest areas for offshore oil development in
the continental U.S," Davis said.
"The unique aspect of the Gulf is we have a continental shelf that is only about
25 miles wide off the Mississippi Delta, so we have this influx of freshwater
nutrients into a deepwater environment very close to the coast," he said.
The Mississippi Delta region of the Gulf has water that is several thousand
meters deep within 50 or 60 miles of the coast, Davis said, and sperm whales are
typically found in these deeper waters along the continental shelf.
The sperm whales are sharing these waters now with increasing numbers of oil and
gas rigs. These activities, and the boat traffic, chemicals, and noise they
bring, may be a cause for concern Davis said.
The project is set up as a basic science study that looks at the natural history
of sperm whales in the northern Gulf of Mexico. But Davis says the study's
findings will likely be of interest to the Marine Mammal Commission, National
Marine Fisheries Service as well as the Minerals Management Service, which
oversees development of offshore oil and gas deposits.
The Endangered Species Act requires officials to monitor not only oil pollution
but also noise pollution, which comes from boat traffic and seismic activity
that is used to search for oil.
The number of rigs drilling in deepwater in the Gulf of Mexico rose to a record
high of 42 during the week of April 19, according to the Department of the
Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS).
MMS Acting Director Tom Kitsos said, "This level of deepwater oil and gas
activity illustrates the tremendous level of industry interest in the deepwater
portion of the Gulf of Mexico. Last year began with 26 rigs working in
deepwater, but that number continued to rise. By the end of the year, there were
a record 40 rigs drilling in the deep waters of the Gulf. Now, just four months
into 2001, a new record has been set."
MMS defines deepwater as 1,000 feet of water or greater. Of the 42 wells
drilling in deepwater, 36 of them were in 1,500 feet of water or greater, and
eight wells being drilled in water depths of 5,000 feet or greater." Production
from these deepwater wells has now surpassed production in shallow water,
despite the fact that only four percent of all producing fields in the Gulf of
Mexico are in deepwater.
MMS must determine if offshore industry noise and marine seismic operations
represent a threat to marine mammals and, if so, means to mitigate those
effects. These determinations have been hindered by little data.
Sperm whales can dive for two hours to depths of 10,499 feet (3,200 meters) or
more to feed on squid. Any release of hazardous chemicals by the drilling
industry might affect the Gulf's sperm whales.
A study by MMS issued in March identifies eight hazardous substances used by the
Gulf drilling industry that were stored in amounts exceeding reportable
quantities - sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, zinc bromide, hydrofluoric
acid, diethylamine, toluene, xylene and naphthalene. A potential for
environmental impact exists if either of two chemicals are spilled, zinc bromide
and ammonium chloride, the MMS analysis showed.
Last summer, a group of scientists from the National Marine Fisheries Service,
the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, University of Kansas, University of
Durham and the University of St. Andrews in the UK, conducted a four week study
of the Gulf sperm whales from a large research vessel equipped with
sophisticated listening and tracking devices.
Six whales were tagged with satellite transmitters. About 50 photographs of
sperm whale tails were shot for identification and 40 samples of whale tissue
collected for DNA analyses using a biopsy dart fired at close range from a
modified rifle.
The researchers found just one male during the four week study. "Virtually all
sperm whales observed in the Gulf of Mexico are females, calves, and immature
whale groups," they reported. But one large male, whose sex was confirmed by DNA
analysis, was observed and photographed in the DeSoto Canyon region during the
final days of the scientific cruise.
Currently, MMS and National Marine Fisheries Service scientists are working on
plans for continuing sperm whale and acoustic studies this year.
The sperm whale is the largest of the world's toothed whales, measuring up to 59
feet (18 meters). Sperm whales live in deep waters, and are the most abundant
large whale in the Gulf of Mexico, but other whales swim there too. Fin, blue,
sei, fin, minke, Bryde's and humpback whales have been seen. Orcas, pygmy sperm
whales and dwarf sperm whales, four species of beaked whales, pilot whales and
10 species of dolphins have been reported in the Gulf.
© Environment News Service (ENS) 2001. All Rights Reserved.
You will be discombobulated.
Resistance is futile.
Anonymous
isn't curtailed now. We need more oil and
gas drilling.
> Interior?s Minerals Management Service (MMS).
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