Controlled Burns in Gulf are Killing Endangered Sea Turtles-

BP’s oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has shown no signs of stopping or even slowing for that matter, and ocean life is becoming increasingly more threatened by each passing minute. To add insult to injury, the inept oil company has actually resorted to burning the oil ridden areas in an attempt to eradicate the problem. The issue, however, is not just the oil which remains under the surface of the deep. There are tons of species of ocean animals that are put at great risk during these “controlled” burn operations. In fact – due to BP’s neglectful efforts – a rare and endangered species of sea turtle is being burned alive, with no concern from the company in the least. Mike Ellis, a boat captain involved in a three week endeavor to save as many sea turtles from disaster as possible, says BP effectively blocked rescue efforts by preventing boats from coming out to recover the defenseless turtles. “They ran us out of there and then they shut us down, they would not let us get back in there,” Ellis said in an interview with conservation biologist Catherine Craig. “Once the turtles get in there they can’t get out,” he continued. Dr. Brian Stacey with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told National Public Radio last week that, although there are five different species of sea turtle in the Gulf of Mexico, the majority of the ones found affected by the oil spill are Kemp’s Ridleys, “the rarest of them all.” Ellis confirmed that he’s mostly seen Kemp’s Ridleys as well. According to Mike Michael at Gather.com, Kemp’s Ridleys are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Harming or killing even one animal on the endangered species list can result in a fine of up to $50,000 and it may even include prison time. Michael suggests that BP may be pleased to let turtles burn, given the size of the fines they could face as a result of all the deaths, since it would be harder to determine exactly how many have perished. “Is BP destroying evidence to keep their liability down?” he asks. “Is anyone going to stop them?”