Saving Seafood

News for the Gulf of Mexico Region

Scientists raise concerns about ancient fish species following onslaught of extreme weather: ‘They’re not invincible’

September 30, 2024 — With their spiky armor and snouts full of whiskers, Gulf sturgeon have been around since the time of the dinosaurs. But human-driven threats are pushing this Florida-native species to the brink, WUSF reports.

What’s happening?

These fish, which are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, face a slew of threats. Pollution has expanded in the Suwannee River, one of the waterways where they live. Plus, hurricanes and flooding can worsen chemical runoff and create oxygen “dead zones” that make it impossible for the sturgeon to breathe. For instance, scientists reported “tremendous” mortality in several Florida rivers with Hurricanes Irma in 2017 and Ivan in 2004, and they’re still waiting to assess the impacts of August 2024’s Hurricane Debby, which rose water levels by 20 feet along the Suwannee. This rise threatened to spill more fertilizers, salts, and other nutrients into this fish’s habitat. Meanwhile, a warming world is causing fluctuations in water levels, which can make it difficult or impossible for sturgeon to reach their spawning grounds.

According to WUSF, scientists say that “Florida’s prehistoric fish are surviving as they have for eons … But they’re not invincible.”

Read the full article at The Cool Down

Fish kills following Hurricane Francine

September 19, 2024 — The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) requests the public’s help spotting fish kills that may occur throughout south-central and southeast Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine.

Through sampling and monitoring efforts, LDWF biologists have learned that restocking following storms is not usually necessary and will not speed up the recovery process unless there is a complete kill in a closed system. However, we need to know where fish kills occur and how extensive they are to monitor recovery and consider management tools going forward, including habitat restoration or stocking if needed. Please help us by reporting fish kills in your area.

Call 1-800-442-2511 or your local fisheries office to report a fish kill.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

FLORIDA: Are mahi fleeing Florida to beat the heat?

September 18, 2024 — Under a sky glowing orange from the dawn sun, Martin Grosell gunned his twin-engine sportfishing boat toward the Gulf Stream one morning in August, in search of one of his and South Florida’s favorite fish: mahi.

On board, sprawled on a beanbag, was one of his best anglers, his youngest daughter Camilla, 12.

“She’s born and raised doing this and she’s caught a lot more fish than most in South Florida,” Grosell said, then admits: ”Most of the time, it’s actually her telling me what to do.”

Grosell is an ichthyologist — a marine biologist who studies fish — at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School where he specializes in mahi. As one of the principal investigators for a research project studying lasting impacts from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, his lab looked at how the massive spill harmed two of the state’s most popular trophy fish – bluefin tuna and mahi.

Read the full article at WLRN

US Gulf of Mexico oil firms begin hurricane damage checks, ports reopen

September 13, 2024 — U.S. Gulf of Mexico oil producers on Thursday were conducting safety checks and preparing to restart some output after Hurricane Francine disrupted operations, while a Louisiana oil refinery ramped up production and export ports reopened.

Francine missed Texas and hit the Louisiana coast on Wednesday with up to 100 mph winds (161 kph), knocking out power to up to 375,000 customers and bringing heavy rains and flooding to the state. Its winds dropped quickly and the storm was over southern Mississippi on Thursday where another 14,000 customers were without power.

As drillers began to assess damage, the extent of Francine’s impact on energy production emerged with new, higher estimates of lost output from the 169 offshore platforms evacuated.

Energy producers reported on Thursday they had shut-in 42%, or 730,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Gulf of Mexico oil production and 53%, or nearly 992 million cubic feet of natural gas, offshore regulator Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said.

Read the full article at Reuters

Industry groups appeal court order threatening Gulf of Mexico oil production

September 13, 2024 — The American Petroleum Institute, the largest oil trade group in the United States, has joined forces with several other top energy industry organizations to protest a court order they claim threatens oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico.

API, EnerGeo Alliance, the National Ocean Industries Association, and Chevron USA said the order puts “current and future U.S. energy supply” at risk in an appeal filed Wednesday evening.

Read the full article at The Washington Examiner

LOUISIANA: Hurricane Francine Reaches Louisiana, Bringing Strong Winds and Heavy Rain to Wider Gulf Coast

September 12, 2024 — Tropical Storm Francine strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico Tuesday night, with maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour and gusts of up to 101 mph recorded by an oil platform Wednesday morning, the National Hurricane Center said.

The storm prompted Louisiana residents to move inland, and oil and gas companies to stop a quarter of their production, according to the United States Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, as Reuters reported. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for several areas.

The hurricane center said hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surge were expected to begin this afternoon.

“Outer rainbands are starting to move onshore of the coast of southern Louisiana. These conditions will continue to deteriorate over the next couple of hours. Ensure you are in a safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding,” the National Hurricane Center said.

Read the full article at ecowatch

Offshore oil braces as Francine approaches Gulf Coast

September 11, 2024 — Roughly a quarter of the nation’s offshore oil production in the Gulf of Mexico is shut down Tuesday as Tropical Storm Francine approaches the Gulf Coast, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.

Francine, which is barreling northeast in the western Gulf of Mexico, is predicted to become a hurricane by landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday, with heavy rain and storm surges, according to NOAA. But the storm has already driven oil and gas workers out of its path, according to BSEE.

As of Tuesday, offshore oil and gas workers have been evacuated from 130 production platforms, or about 35 percent of the manned platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, where most U.S. offshore oil and gas is produced, according to BSEE.

Read the full article at E&E News

Fishing and oil industries pause due to Hurricane Francine

September 11, 2024 — According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Francine is expected to grow into a hurricane today, Tuesday, Sept. 10, and land as a hurricane on Wednesday over Louisiana, where Gov. Jeff Landry has declared a state of emergency. U.S. oil and gas companies have paused production due to the storm, and sources have released notices to remind fishermen and boaters alike to plan to protect their boats and other assets.

Francine began as a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico and strengthened further into a tropical storm on Monday. Forecasters expect the storm to move ashore as a possible Category 2 hurricane as it has been slightly gaining speed and shifting eastward, causing weather alerts as far as the Florida border. According to BBC, residents along the upper Texas and Louisiana coastlines are being warned of life-threatening storm surges and have been urged to complete hurricane preparations by Tuesday evening.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

FLORIDA: Innovative technologies could help revive Florida’s storied oyster fishery

September 10, 2024 — A group of experts from the University of Florida have authored a report proposing the use of innovative technology that could help revive Florida’s once-prolific Apalachicola Bay oyster fishery.

Apalachicola Bay, located in northwest Florida in the Gulf of Mexico, was long the source of most of the oysters sold in the southeast U.S. state and comprised about 10 percent of those sold across the entire country. The bay’s oysters were famous for their quality and taste and an economic driver in the region, producing USD 6.6 million (EUR 6 million) worth of sales in 2011.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Top oil trade group warns court order could shut down Gulf of Mexico production

September 10, 2024 — The American Petroleum Institute, the largest oil trade group in the United States, is warning that a court order issued last month could shut down all oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

The oil industry group sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Friday, saying that the decision issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland could put the country’s “economic security in jeopardy.”

It comes just weeks after the district court ruled in favor of a number of environmental groups that filed a lawsuit after the National Marine Fisheries Service issued its 2020 Biological Opinion on offshore oil and natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico.

Read the full article at The Washington Examiner