The fishing outside the Dry Tortugas National Park has been closed down owing to the proximity of the oil sheen in the Gulf of Mexico.
The newspaper says it's a hundred miles north of the National Park which is seventy miles west of Key West accessible by ferry or seaplane. 
They believe the oil sheen may come within 50 miles (80kms) by the weekend. 
The waters of the National Park, where fishing is never allowed, are spawning grounds for fish and coral which help keep the decrepit reef along the Keys resupplied with wildlife. Now this too is on the chopping block. The newspaper says it's a hundred miles north of the National Park which is seventy miles west of Key West accessible by ferry or seaplane. They believe the oil sheen may come within 50 miles (80kms) by the weekend. 
I read the oil is coming out of the seabed at 13,000 pounds per square inch pressure and may not be stopped before the end of the year. I think there is ample time for everything to get nicely coated this summer, no matter what propaganda BP or their government lackeys put out. I took these pictures when I was camping there last Thanksgiving. I'm glad we went when the going was good.
11 comments:
Its gotten to the point that whatever BP says about the progress of capping this mess I don't believe them. I'll be down the end of this month to enjoy the beach and sites of Key West. I hope that it misses the islands........
I may have mentioned this before, but some of my geologist friends read in some of their industry fringe magazines that that BP may have hit part of the Caribbean volcano network. This would explain the pressure.
Based on some calculations, the middle of the row estimates are 42M gallons in the water as of last week. Based on the fines the US government could impose, BP could be looking at over $4 trillion in fines alone.
I was doing a silly chant last night hoping magic would keep the oil away. If magic were possible anywhere it is in Key West "There are angels in the spray, wizards in the palm trees and elves in the seashells..." ~David Beaird on Key West.
I cannot see any reason why oil in the quantity it has spilled, whatever that may really be and jeffrey's number is as real as any,will magically vaprize before it gets here. My wife and I are wondering if there is a future in the Keys for peopl,e who need work to live.
I was wrong about the Vandenberg apparently, people have been coming on droves to dive. How long will that last? Fishing? Swimming? Treasure hunting? If all these things go away government jobs like mine vaporize too. It is simple math and science.I hope i am wrong to listen to the scientists on the sidelines.
I think what is most frustrating, having read all they are "doing" to try and stop it or keep it from pouring out so quickly, that Magic is just as likely as their stupid for-show plans. It's galling to me that they were so unprepared, infuriating that there was no emergency plan set up and just beyond the pale that they CONTINUE to lie about what is going on. Key West is the ONLY place I want to live (even if I can't live there now) and I am so pissed off about this murder that is happening on our shores- my complete sympathies are with you Conchscooter!
Mr CS:
here is BP's ROV actually doing the repair in real time.
http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/globalbp/globalbp_uk_english/homepage/STAGING/local_assets/bp_homepage/html/rov_stream.html
bob
Wet Coast Scootin
Admitedly, I am a Conch wannabe...
I vacation to the Keys too often vicariously , through this blog, web images, and the schooner wharf bar cam. Every day I am on craigslist or some other site checking out liveaboard boats to fulfill my dream.I am numb over the unimaginable amount of oil that is creating a living nitemare for the people of the Gulf Coast. There is nothing worse than not being able to do something to help yourself or others or the entire eco system of our world.
I don't know if you saw the Rachel Maddow show tonight- I have a link to it on my blog but she really goes after the issue in a way that no one on television is. Olbermann backs her up nicely but she also confirms the post you had here on the fucking boom. It's worthwhile watching the whole show.
I picked a hell of a time for a Keys getaway (we'll be down for a week starting Saturday). Glad I'll at least get to see the islands one last time before they're doused in BP's shame. As others have stated, I too have an interest in someday moving to the Keys, and everything that's going on just makes me sick. Keep us posted on happenings and I'll keep hoping that the fallout, when it comes, has minimal impact.
I teach at a college in the Florida Panhandle. I suspect that when the oil fouls the beaches and tourists stop coming, we're going to dry up and blow away. And the job market for professors is lousy!
If the oil reaches the Keys, I can see Key West surviving (between the military and the cruise ships and the history/partying), but the rest of the Keys will be pretty much gone.
A terrifying prospect, Lisa. Especially considering that there is so much cool stuff in the Keys between Key Largo and Key West.... But I agree. I don't think anything can stop this town, or so I hope!
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