An oil spill from a ‌damaged tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates has widened, satellite images showed, triggering more beach closures and raising environmental concerns.

After 16 years, this disaster is still ongoing.

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused a severe and long-lasting decline in deep-sea marine life in the Gulf of Mexico. Researchers found that animal populations, including octopus, krill, squid, and shrimp, declined by 60 to 85 percent within three and a half years of the spill, with no significant recovery observed over the subsequent decade. The study, which analyzed data from nine surveys conducted between 2011 and 2023, identified the spill as the 'fastest and most severe faunal decline' ever documented in Earth's largest ecosystem type. Krill and lanternfish, foundational species in the Gulf's food web, were particularly affected, leading to genetic bottlenecks that could further hinder ecosystem recovery. The research also suggests that lingering pollutants may interfere with species' ability to find mates by disrupting their sense of smell. Scientists ruled out other factors such as water temperature and oxygen levels, concluding that the oil spill was the most plausible explanation for the ecosystem collapse. The study's comprehensive approach, combining net hauls, acoustic surveys, and genetic sampling, provides strong evidence supporting this conclusion. Despite a $20.8 billion settlement by BP in 2016 for environmental restoration, the Gulf's deep-sea ecosystems remain significantly impacted, with some species showing an 80 percent decline in population. Lead author Tracey Sutton noted that large predators like sperm whales, once common near the Mississippi River, have not been seen for over a decade. The findings highlight the long-term environmental consequences of industrial disasters and raise concerns about potential impacts from future deep-sea mining activities.

In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig failed catastrophically, leading to the largest oil spill in the history of Earth's oceans.