Assessment of the Brazilian Coast Oil Spill Impact in the fish eggs and larvae development from the Tropical Continental Shelf

Abstract

The response of ichthyoplankton assemblage to the oil spill in the coastal region of Brazil Northeaster on August 2019 was investigated using data of before and after spill from plankton survey off the coast of Salvador. Differences in fish egg and larvae density was evident in all samples collected in the continental shelf of Salvador, after oil spill (Oct/2020 and Feb/2021). In general larvae larger than 5 mm tended to occur predominantly before oil spill, while smaller larvae (1–3 mm) occurred predominantly after oil spill, mainly in October/2020. Abnormalities in embryonic development, deformity in the spine and yolk sac edema were found in fish eggs and larvae sampled in the Salvador continental shelf. Rate of abnormalities in embryonic development were significantly increased after oil spill (Oct/2020, Feb/2021) compared to before oil spill period (Oct/2013, Feb/2014) and high incidence of larvae with spinal deformities was observed after oil spill, about 65% of the larvae sampled in the BA 2 station on October 2020 presented deformity in the spine. The fluid accumulation in the yolk sac (edema) were observed only after oil spill on October 2020. The results of this study indicate negative impact of oil spill in the coastal region of Brazil Northeaster on structure of ichthyoplankton assemblages in the continental shelf of Salvador.