Oily residue discovered off Alabama coast – Subsurface oil spill particles easily eaten by fish
By Debbie Williams
Published: Fri, May 07, 2010 – 7:18 pm CST DAUPHIN ISLAND, Alabama – Scientist from Dauphin Island Sea Lab took water samples earlier this week off the coast of Dauphin Island and found oily residue floating just below the surface. It maybe the first signs of the oil spill off Alabama’s coast. Thirty-five miles off the coast of Dauphin Island marine scientist Monty Graham dipped his net in to the Gulf of Mexico and was surprised by what he found. “Oily, tarry residue was picked up, kind of soft.” That’s how Graham describes the little particles he shakes up in a specimen bottle. The particles may not look like much, but Graham believes there is reason for concern. “Because they are below the surface and not associated with a slick or sheen. Their distribution is not going to be picked up by aerial surveys or satellites. The other concern the small particles can easily be eaten by fish.” The next day they went further out, 38 miles. This time an even more surprising find. “We thought we saw pieces of driftwood but actually it was a debris field of about 12 of these brick sized chunks and it had this oily sheen around them.” We showed the video to a third grade class from Semmes Elementary school on Dauphin Island for a field trip. After they saw the video they’re thinking what everybody else is thinking. “I think it’s kind of sad that something like this could actually happen,” says 9 year old Tyler Deermon. Samples have been turned over to the coast guard and to other scientist at LSU.
