| The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is | | | | into this category, probably the most popular |
| predicted to have a dramatic effect on seafood | | | | being Tilapia and bone fish. However, all species |
| prices throughout the United States for the | | | | including bottom feeding seafood will eventually |
| remainder of this year. It is evident that the oil | | | | come into contact with some form of the spill |
| spill is devastatingly large, much more so that | | | | and will be negatively affected as a food source. |
| originally reported. It is clear that it will impact both | | | | Even if certain areas of the Gulf of Mexico are |
| the coast of Florida, as well as the entire Gulf of | | | | not directly affected by the pollution, it is possible |
| Mexico. | | | | that government scientists will restrict the use of |
| It's uncertain at this point how long lasting the | | | | any seafood from this area for years to come. |
| effects will be on the water and the environment, | | | | Carcinogens and various pathogens of related |
| but clearly it will be substantial. It will be very | | | | origin could prove harmful for even the smallest |
| difficult for fisherman to approach the areas in | | | | human consumption. |
| question, and even if they do manage to find | | | | As a result, new sources of seafood will have to |
| pockets of traditional fishing grounds without oil on | | | | be found. This will not be cheap, and in some |
| top of the water, it is possible that the underlying | | | | cases the available supply of certain species will be |
| vegetation and seabed could be affected | | | | very difficult to acquire. The addition of higher |
| throughout the entire region. | | | | shipping costs, as well as the increased market |
| Initially, seafood that will be directly affected | | | | demand will certainly result in significantly higher |
| includes surface fish that feed near the top of the | | | | seafood costs throughout North America in the |
| ocean. There are a number of species that fall | | | | months to come. |