All Aboard Boats: Gusher

An explosion aboard a Gulf of Mexico oil rig that killed 11 crewmen April 24, 2010, caused a leak, releasing 42,000 gallons of crude oil per day into the Gulf of Mexico. The long-term effects on fisheries are as yet unknown. Fish can swim to clean water. Their eggs, which float on the surface, are most vulnerable. It takes 2.1 gallons of crude to make a gallon of gasoline. So, in practical terms, 42,000 gallons of crude is enough to…

Gulf Coast anglers may be in for views like this.

•fill about 570 full-size (roughly 35 gal. tank) tow vehicles.

•fill about 140 26-foot center-console boats.

•run a 250 hp outboard for about 1,100 hours.

•run a twin 600 hp diesel convertible for about 700 hours.

Zooplankton and fish eggs like these are most vulnerable to open-water oil spills.