Sixteen Years After Deepwater Horizon, Deep Sea Life Shows Few Signs of Recovery

Sixteen years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a new study suggests that deep sea life has shown few signs of recovery. The study, published in the journal Science, analyzed data from the Gulf of Mexico's seafloor and found that the area affected by the spill still lacks species diversity and has reduced biomass compared to unaffected areas. The researchers used a combination of remote-operated vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, and autonomous underwater gliders to collect data on the seafloor ecosystem. The study found that the area affected by the spill had 12% less biomass than unaffected areas, and had a 30% lower species diversity. The researchers suggest that it may take another 10-20 years for the ecosystem to recover from the spill.