Foodbuzz 24, 24, 24: Save the Gulf Dinner - Lessons on Impact, Oyster Shucking and More

I was thrilled when Foodbuzz announced July's 24x24 Gulf Ambassador Event, bringing 24 bloggers around the world to host a food event over a 24 hour period and to blog about it. This month, Foodbuzz had a special request, asking bloggers to host a "Gulf inspired" event, one that would highlight the impact of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In lieu of the $250 stipend typically given to participants, Foodbuzz will donate that amount - a total of $6,000 to benefit the struggling Gulf Coast fishery community via Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF).

It has been more than three months since the Deep Horizon oil rig explosion, and some of you may be wondering the toll of this enduring oil spill. There are no exact numbers, but here are a few figures to assemble a picture of the ramifications.

Here are a few statistics:

• 4.9 million barrels of oil is estimated to have spilled into the ocean (source)
• 35,000 -  60,000 barrels (about 1.5 - 2.5 million gallons) of oil gush into the ocean daily (source)
• Approximately 630 miles of Gulf Coast shoreline has been contaminated by the BP oil spill (source): 
• 89 miles in Florida
• 364 miles in Louisiana
• 107 miles in Mississippi 
• and 70 miles in Alabama
• Roughly 1.84 million gallons (7 million liters) of dispersant have been applied (source): 
• 1.07 million on the surface and 
• 771,000 subsea
• 17,000 jobs estimated to be lost by year-end because of the oil spill (source)
• At risk is the livelihood of family businesses that took generations to build.
• $1,200,000,000 projected to be lost by year-end due to the oil spill (source)
• 400 species estimated to be at risk, from the base of the chain with oil-eating bacteria, shrimp, crab to endangered sea turtles, brown pelicans and whales. (source)

No one can predict the long-term impact of such high levels of oil and toxins released into the ocean, however it is becoming more and more evident that the damage from the oil spill will span beyond the food chain and through the entire lifecycle of the Gulf's eco-system.


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