Fifteen years ago, the BP drilling disaster devastated the Gulf's ecosystem, harmed countless communities and highlighted the severe risks of deep-sea drilling. Reflection on the anniversary of the disaster has caused many to call for stronger protections for the Gulf’s resources and advocate for a permanent moratorium on drilling in the Gulf. Furthermore, aggressive decommissioning of existing fossil fuel infrastructure to ensure the long-term health of the region and its inhabitants has been advised by organizations such as Healthy Gulf.

The BP disaster claimed the lives of 11 people, released more than 200 million barrels of crude oil and contaminated 1,300 miles of shoreline across five states. Thousands of birds, sea turtles and

marine mammals perished. The ripple effects are still felt today. The Gulf’s wildlife struggles to recover. Studies show that there is still oil in eggs and fish and many species are continuing to decline. Those declines could negatively impact animals that feed on these species, such as whales, dolphins, tuna and marlin.

Christian Wagley, Florida-Alabama Coastal Organizer for Healthy Gulf, says, “The disaster is estimated to have caused a 22% decline in the population of Rice's whales, one of the world's

rarest whale species and the only whale species endemic to the Gulf. With only around 50 whales remaining, another major spill could potentially drive Rice's whales to extinction, marking the

first human-caused extinction of a great whale species."

For more information on Healthy Gulf’s work, see HealthyGulf.org.