ABC World News (6/23, story 8, 1:15, Gutman) reported on evidence of a “marine biologist’s doomsday scenario: sharks thrashing” in the shallow waters off Alabama. Bob Shipp, University of Southern Alabama: “What we’re really witnessing may be a shift in the whole ecosystem feeding structure, the food web.” Gutman: “Biologists say marine life is fleeing the spill zone as animals would a forest fire.” Moby Solangi, Institute for Marine Mammal Studies: “The habitat is shrinking. We have tens of thousands of square miles now affected. These animals are moving away.”
The New York Times (6/24, Lehren, Gillis) reports, “Fearing that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will deal a severe blow to the bluefin tuna, an environmental group is demanding that the government declare the fish an endangered species, setting off extensive new protections under federal law.”