UPDATE 4-US says most BP spill oil is gone or degrading

At least 50 percent of the oil that was released is now completely gone from the system, and most of the remainder is degrading rapidly or is being removed from the beaches," Jane Lubchenco, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told a White House briefing.

For those that fail to meet the assumption of having just fallen off the turnip truck, John Kesser makes some pertinent observations.

“The bottom line is, this problem has not gone away as some recent reports seem to indicate,” Kessler continues. “There are still large amounts of oil and gas in the gulf – just because we see less at the surface doesn’t mean it isn’t there.”

If the oil and gas, despite claims of disappearing, continue to lurk below the surface, marine life while resilient will struggle to rebound. Watch the price of shrimp, oysters, and other filter feeders. They don't care about using words to limit liability. If pollutants exist, some marine life populations will explode while others crash. It will be the temporary disruption of the food chain that will alter the composition and structure of the ecosystem. This will affect not only today's but also tomorrow population and growth dynamics.

Source: reuters.com
Source: tamunews.tamu.edu