Oil spills devastate marine life for decades

Oil spills are among the worst environmental disasters, unleashing crude oil into oceans and causing long-term devastation. When oil coats coastlines, it kills seabirds, mammals, and fish, creating ecological imbalances that can last for years. For instance, the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill contaminated over 1,300 miles of Alaskan coastline, killing tens of thousands of animals. Some species, like Pacific herring, saw population declines for over two decades due to toxic contamination.