Potential Spatial and Temporal Vulnerability of Pelagic Fish Assemblages in the Gulf of Mexico to Surface Oil Spills Associated with Deepwater Petroleum Development

Résumé du livre

Advances in deepwater drilling and production technologies have resulted in the seaward expansion of gas and petroleum platforms beyond the continental shelf in the northern Gulf of Mexico. With increased industrial activities in deeper water comes an increased risk of spills in the deepwater pelagic zone. This region provides habitat for a variety of fish species of considerable ecological, recreational and commercial importance. Compared with fish species inhabiting the inshore waters of the northern Gulf, relatively little is known about the distributions and ecology of these offshore taxa.