Expert: Surface area of gulf oil spill has tripled

This growing ecological disaster will have vast economic and political consequences. The destruction of irreplaceable habitat will devastate ecological diversity (the intricacies of the food chain) in the region for years to come. Shrewd market watchers are already anticipating the impacts on shrimping, fishing, and energy flow. The price of shrimp is likely to rise around the global. The disruptions to fishing means a reduction to fish meal, which is an important component of livestock feed. This likely means a switch to another protein source, which will impact other markets. The widening spill will also alter shipping and distribution of energy around a vital choke point. Public response to this event could shape major economic and political decisions for years.

The surface area of a catastrophic Gulf of Mexico oil spill quickly tripled in size amid growing fears among experts that the slick could become vastly more devastating than it seemed just two days ago.

Source: news.yahoo.com