There is little to no risk of fresh oil from the damaged well in the Gulf of Mexico reaching Bermuda, said Environment Minister Glenn Blakeney yesterday.

Meanwhile US researchers have claimed the oil could drift over to beaches on the East Coast as early as next month and get carried on currents across to the Island.

According to US computer models, the oil could enter the gulf's loop current and go around the tip of Florida as far north as Cape Hatteras. It could then drift to Bermuda and over to Europe.

But yesterday Mr. Blakeney told the House of Assembly the impact to the Island would be minimal.

"There is also little to no risk of fresh oil reaching Bermuda," he said, adding the Island would likely see oil in the form of tar balls, subsurface liquid oil spheres or attached to certain seaweed.

"The threat to Bermuda has to be considered from two very different perspectives. On the one hand there is the threat related to the defacing of beaches by tar balls.

"The other concern, probably the more serious for us in Bermuda, has to do with the toxicity of oil and of the chemical dispersal agents being used in large quantity."

Mr. Blakeney continued: "At the moment the evidence for a toxicity impact is circumstantial. For example there has been a significant rise in the number of stranded and dead turtles noted in the Gulf of Mexico. But, there was no obvious presence of oil, neither on the body surface or internally."

Director of Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) Tony Knap said the computer models forecasting that fresh oil will make its way to Bermuda were "not very accurate".

"We will get tar over time, but this thought of [it happening in] 90 days I would have to say it is very remote that it would get here that quickly."

BIOS is currently working with Government's Conservation Services and the Department of Environmental Protection, to devise a way to deal with tar build-up.

But Dr. Knap admits there's not much that can be done to protect the Island from tar, a messy substance usually lining the rocky shores.

Still, Government officials have met with scientists in Louisiana to discuss ways to gauge the spill and to determine the fate of the oil.

Both measures are needed to fully understand the impacts and put necessary plans in place, said Mr. Blakeney.

"As more detailed information becomes available I will ensure that my honourable colleagues and the people of Bermuda are made aware of it," he said.

"The importance of today's statement is to let you know that the Government is actively participating in the international discussion and working locally to ensure that we are prepared for any eventuality."