Ecological Effects of Energy Development on Reef Fish, Ichthyoplankton and Benthos Populations in the Flower Garden Banks of the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, 1980-1982. Volume 2. Histopathology of Fishes in Relation to Drilling Operations Near Flower Garden Banks

摘要

Fish near the Flower Garden Banks in the Gulf of Mexico were examined for gross and microscopic lesions to determine relationships between oil-well-drilling operations and the health of fish in this area. Fish were collected near two, active drilling platforms and from four control areas, and most comparisons between locations were with red snapper, vermilion snapper, creole-fish, wenchman, gray triggerfish, sash flounder, southern hake, and Mexican searobin. Some fish species collected near drilling platforms had higher liver/body weight ratios and more frequent or severe acute, histological lesions than controls.