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Types of Fish Affected by the Oil Spill in Louisiana's Marshlands

In April 2010, an estimated 170 million gallons of oil flowed into the Gulf of Mexico after the explosion of BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig. The dark brown blanket of oil also seeped into many of Louisiana's wetlands, covering its marine life and gathering in globs around the bottom of plant stalks. Almost 3,000 miles of wetlands and beaches were contaminated by the spill. Although restoration efforts have slowed the loss of wetlands, Louisiana may lose another 1,000 square miles of coastal wetlands by the year 2050. These wetlands are not only home to many freshwater fish in the area, but they also provide spawning and nursery areas for many of the saltwater fish who live in the Gulf.

Marine Life
- Almost 95 percent of all marine species living in the Gulf spend time in these wetlands, with about 30 percent of the nation's commercial catch coming from off Louisiana's shores. Vulnerable and unprotected eggs can be hidden from predators among wetland edges and underwater grasses. Wetland plants and other marsh material provide a surface for fish to attach their eggs. When the eggs hatch, the vegetation becomes both a protection and a food source. The damage and contamination of Louisiana's marshland have had an adverse effect on countless of species of fish, affecting both breeding environments and food sources.
Freshwater Fish
- The roots of the mangrove trees that makeup the Louisiana wetlands provided a perfect habitat for the freshwater fish that resided throughout these marshes. But damage to these roots and trees by the oil spill have stripped the smaller of these fish hiding spots from larger fish, as well as multiple food sources. Some of the freshwater wetland fish that have been negatively affected are the gray snapper, the ladyfish, the tarpon and the dwarf seahorse.
Shrimp
- The shrimp has been one of the most impacted fish species of the disastrous oil spill. Major shrimp species in the Gulf of Mexico include white shrimp, pink shrimp and brown shrimp. Mating of the shrimp typically takes place in the shallow waters of the wetlands, which is where the life cycle from egg to larvae to adult plays out. The contamination of the eggs and larvae that were present during the spill, and the damage done and continues to occur to the wetlands environment, has been devastating to the shrimp population in Louisiana.
Saltwater Fish
- The erosion of the wetlands by damage from the oil spill have driven many saltwater fish towards the ever-shrinking coastal wetlands. This has caused a predatory environment for many of the freshwater fish species. One of the most prominent, and dangerous, species of fish is the shark. Other saltwater fish now spotted swimming in these areas are redfish and specked trout. This has contributed to the disappearance of some freshwater species, such as the large-mouthed bass, from these waters.

Nature