Federal officials have unveiled a proposed $210 million investment to restore Gulf of Mexico fisheries, sea turtles, and invertebrate species such as shrimp, crabs, and reef coral impacted by the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The funding stems from the $8.8 billion settlement BP reached with the federal government and Gulf Coast states in 2016, which designated $1.2 billion to restore open-water resources in the Gulf.
This new draft restoration plan marks the fourth initiative from federal trustees to address damage to open ocean resources. Previous efforts have allocated $421 million for projects targeting marine mammals, birds, coral reefs, and other marine life affected by the spill. According to The Shreveport-Bossier Advocate reported by Mark Schleifstein, the funds for this latest proposal will support six fish and invertebrate restoration projects and four focused on sea turtle recovery.
The proposal excludes a separate $350 million project designed to rebuild portions of the Chandeleur Islands and surrounding seagrass beds, critical habitats for the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. State and federal officials have indicated they will pursue funding for that project in 2025.
The public has until December 16 to submit comments on the plan. Federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Interior and Agriculture departments, will review the feedback before finalizing the restoration strategy.
The 2010 BP disaster is considered the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history, spreading oil over more than 40,000 square miles of the Gulf. The spill devastated marine life, from bacteria to large predators like bluefin tuna. It also resulted in the death of trillions of fish and shellfish larvae and the destruction of entire fisheries. The spill also killed up to 7,600 juvenile and adult endangered sea turtles, with an additional 35,000 hatchlings believed to be injured.
Key Projects in the $210 Million Restoration Plan
Several projects under the new plan focus on the survival of reef fish and the mitigation of fishing-related harm. For example, the “Next Generation Fishing” initiative, which aims to reduce bycatch, will receive $57.2 million over 15 years. This program focuses on minimizing the unintentional capture of marine species, including reef fish, menhaden, and sea trout, through improved gear and fishing techniques.
Another significant project targets the recovery of fish and invertebrates impacted by the spill. This includes efforts to remove marine debris, tackle harmful algae blooms, and eliminate invasive species like lionfish. Additionally, an outreach campaign will aim to curb illegal charter fishing practices, which contribute to fish mortality.
Sea turtle conservation is another focal point, with multiple projects designed to safeguard nesting habitats and reduce bycatch. One such initiative, the “Gulf-wide Sea Turtle Bycatch Reduction” project, will expand existing efforts to reduce interactions between commercial fishers and sea turtles. This includes the distribution of turtle-excluder devices (TEDs) and outreach programs to encourage the use of new TED prototypes that increase both turtle protection and shrimp catches.
Other efforts, such as the Gulf-wide Sea Turtle Vessel Strike Reduction project, will work to minimize the risk of boat collisions with sea turtles through public education and behavioral studies. Additionally, the Gulf-wide Sea Turtle Stranding Network and Emergency Response Enhancements project will improve the management of stranding data and boost response capabilities.
As federal trustees finalize their restoration plans, the public is encouraged to review the proposal and submit comments by December 16. Direct feedback can be sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Gulf Restoration Office.
