Not long after the tanker Jessica’s Jan. 16 grounding here, Ecuadorians were remarking: “God is a Galapageño.” And for good reason: After Jessica’s hull cracked and the better part of its 240,000-gallon fuel cargo poured into the sea less than a half-mile off San Crisbobal Island, favorable weather and currents spirited the slick to deep water, dispersing and evaporating much of it along the way. The spill, to be sure, caused damage. Two pelicans and a stingray died, and specialists had to remove oil from dozens of animals ranging from sea lions to blue-footed boobies. Further, scientists point out that sunken fuel killed local macroalgae, a problem that—if extensive—potentially could spell long-term trouble for the local marine food chain... [Log in to read more]