Latest NOAA study ties Deepwater Horizon oil spill to the spike in Gulf dolphin deaths. Studies completed by independent and government scientists have found signs of illness associated with exposure to petroleum products, particularly in the form of rare lesions on their lungs and adrenal glands, in many of these bottlenose dolphin deaths. As stated on NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration website, “The timing, location, and nature of the lesions support that oil compounds from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused these lesions and contributed to the high numbers of dolphin deaths within this oil spill’s footprint.” For more on this see NOAA’s statement and the peer reviewed study in PLOS ONE.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees are accepting public comment through June 19 on the Draft Phase IV Early Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessments. The plan is available for review online here. Other useful links including the public comment portal and overview fact sheet can be found on the Gulf Spill Restoration website. More details on the plan, including a list of meetings a copy can be found at and the projects included, please see the press release.
The Florida Institute of Oceanography has posted a job listing to fill the FIO Director position. This position is located in Saint Petersburg, FL at the University of South Florida – St. Petersburg campus. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled but submittal no later than July 15, 2015 is recommended. For more details on the position including qualifications, please see the job listing.