Oil released from an unidentified ship along with two “natural” seepage points in the Gulf of Mexico has spread into seven protected natural areas, affecting more than 600km (373 miles), Mexican officials reported on Thursday. The announcement comes after weeks of debate in Mexico regarding the response to the spill, which was first detected in early March off the coasts of Veracruz and Tabasco. While authorities stated that there is no evidence of “serious environmental damage,” the marine