How are fish affected by oil spills?
A. Most often, fish either are unaffected by oil, or are affected only briefly. However, fish can be substantially affected in some circumstances, especially when oil spills into shallow or confined waters. We have observed fish kills caused by spills of light oils and petroleum products (such as diesel fuel, gasoline, and jet fuel) into shallow water, and we’ve found that fish eggs in shallow water, such as salmon eggs in a streambed, can be wiped out by an oil spill. We also have seen fish kills in contained areas, such as lakes, lagoons, and some shallow-water nearshore areas, where spilled oil naturally concentrates. For example, in 1994, territorial reef fishes in nearshore areas off Puerto Rico were greatly affected by No.
