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Mexico Says Gulf Oil Spill Tied to Illegal Dumping and Natural Seeps

The finding triggers vessel inspections that will test government transparency.

A fisherman untangles a net after suspending fishing outings because of an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that authorities said originated from an unidentified vessel and two natural oil seeps in Salinas, Mexico, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
Fishermen untangle a net after suspending fishing trips because of an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that authorities said originated from an unidentified vessel and two natural oil seeps in Salinas, Mexico, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
A drone view shows a skimming boom deployed along the Rio Seco to collect oil after a spill from Pemex’s Olmeca refinery, which is recovering fossil fuels in strategic areas within or adjacent to the facility, in Puerto Ceiba, Tabasco state, Mexico, March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Luis Manuel Lopez
Fisherman Roberto Santos sits on the shore after suspending fishing because of an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that authorities said originated from an unidentified vessel and two natural oil seeps in Salinas, Mexico, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

Overview

  • Mexican officials, in a Thursday briefing, said the slick came from an unidentified ship off Coatzacoalcos plus two natural oil seeps and confirmed the sources remain active.
  • The contamination spread more than 600 kilometers and reached seven protected areas in Veracruz and Tabasco, according to the environment ministry.
  • Authorities said the damage is not severe, yet Oceana and local networks reported dead sea turtles, dolphins and a manatee, along with harmed reefs and mangroves, as fishing towns report losses.
  • The navy is inspecting 13 vessels that transited the area and has asked for international help to check nine now in international waters, while Pemex conducts underwater checks to rule out platform leaks.
  • Cleanup crews have set marine barriers and reported recovering hundreds of tons of oily residue, though totals vary across official updates as work continues along beaches and lagoons.