NEW ORLEANS -- In the midst of so many unanswered questions surrounding the Tuesday oil spill after a rig explosion, there are also new safety concerns over Louisiana wildlife. Some say there's also a strong potential that our state's prominent fishing industry could suffer.
The fiery rig is now submerged in the Gulf of Mexico, but what appears to be a more than five mile stretch of crude oil continues to shine atop the water.
“I think it certainly has the potential to be a major spill,” said David Rainey, vice president of British Petroleum, one of the world's largest energy companies which contracted the rig.
According to Rainey, it is unclear whether the 700,000 gallons of barreled diesel, once atop the structure, are still intact under water or spilling into the gulf.
Cleanup efforts, similar to those during the 2008 Mississippi River oil spill in New Orleans, are now underway off the coast of Venice to skim off the refined oil that floats to the top.
But representatives with rig owner TransOcean acknowledge a well, dug more than 18,000 feet below the rig, could also be leaking more oil -- crude in fact, which experts say could prove to be more troublesome.
"Some of the heavier crude oil is going to sink down below the surface where it's going to be much more difficult to recover," said Dr. Luann White, a toxicologist consultant for the Louisiana Department of Public Health.
For the past 30 years, White has worked with the state to analyze the environmental impact of oil spills. White said depending on the volume of oil, the area could expect a serious blow to the fishing industry.
"The thing is will we always know where this underground oil is," wonders White. "It could potentially impact some of the oyster beds."
Not to mention countless other fish and wildlife, she added.
At this KJean, a Mid-City seafood shop, the recent oil spill has customers worrying about an upcoming shortage or even a spike in prices.
"It probably will because people love fish in this area," said KJean customer Karl Stockman.
Shop owner Kenan Buchert said much of his stock comes straight from the gulf.
"You’re snapper is the main thing," said Kenan Buchert, KJean owner. "Snapper and grouper and tuna."
But considering the vast size of the gulf, he said, and a surplus of farm raised favorites like redfish, he doubts customers have anything to worry about.
Environmental advocates, however, say their list of concerns is only getting longer.
"Since 2001, rigs in the gulf have averaged 95 fires every year," said Anne Rolfes, founder of the Bucket Brigade. "150 worker injuries every year and seven deaths every year."
And this latest tragedy, said Rolfes, only solidifies a dangerous track record.
It is one that is clearly putting emergency responders and wildlife in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama on high alert, as everyone hopes that the shimmer in the gulf doesn’t prove to be a sign of what's to come.
Federal officials say the rig has been inspected three times this year, including an inspection earlier this month. No violations were ever given.
By Thursday night, about 500,000 feet of boom is estimated to be along the Gulf of Mexico to collect the oil on the surface. By Friday, crews are expected to have close to one million feet of protective barrier stretched out.
