Renowned Russian ecologist Andrei Peshkov warned that fish and other life in the Black Sea have begun dying near the area of the fuel spill, and he noted that only people who walked along the shore during the disaster escaped harm. By spring, the fuel oil that settled on the seabed is expected to surface again, threatening the broader marine food web in the affected zone. He is in discussions with NSN about the evolving situation.
Experts explain that some hydrocarbons that fish breathe are dissolved in the water. Fuel oil poses a serious situation; some of it floats while portions remain at depth. As air warms during the season, more of it is likely to surface.
With spring arrival, conditions are expected to worsen. As waters warm in March and April, marine life could suffer more. Large amounts of fuel oil remain on the bottom, along with algae and rocks; when heated, these substances may rise and dissolve into the sea, potentially damaging the entire life chain.
Crawfish, for example, act as a fundamental food source for many species and are among the most sensitive to respiratory disruption. They are commonly used as a key indicator of water quality.
In the State Duma, lawmakers urged curbs on fishing and seafood harvesting in the Black and Azov Seas in the wake of the spill, citing the possibility that petroleum residues could accumulate in seafood and pose health risks, including liver damage. Rospotrebnadzor officials promised tighter checks on Black Sea fish quality and testing for oil content. While some sample studies of fish suggest no oil pollution, the head of the department, Anna Popova, said monitoring continues.
Earlier reports noted that rescue teams had collected more than 164,000 tons of sand as part of cleanup efforts following the fuel leak in the Black Sea.