The oil spill disaster that occurred when the Exxon Valdez ran aground has become part of the iconography of ecological disaster. This book synthesizes previously confidential data only recently released by the U.S. government. The data concerns the effects of this nightmarish spill on marine mammals, such as sea otters, harbor seals, killer whales, and humpback whales. Because many of the book's contributors were on site within 24 hours of this 11 million gallon catastrophe, the book is a unique longitudinal study of the demise of an ecosystem due to a single acute environmental perturbation.These certain-to-be-influential results reported here should assist marine biologists, pathologists, toxicologists, environmentalists, engineers, and coastal planners in assessing the nature of this now legendary disaster.

This book was written by twenty-nine professionals with the often unwilling cooperation of 357 Alaskan sea otters -- the most photogenic and probably the most vulnerable of the mammalian victims of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.It is divided into three sections covering a broad range of concerns, from how best to capture a sea otter, through tests and suggested treatments, to considerations governing release of rehabilitated animals. Experts also discuss facility design, volunteer training, and personnel safety issues.Although its contents are useful for a variety of people from policymakers to veterinarians, Emergency Care and Rehabilitation of Oiled Sea Otters aims chiefly at helping rehabilitators, representatives of the oil industry, and government agents conduct successful rehabilitation efforts. The book contains the best available information on the subject; nothing else even comes close.

Scientists directly involved in studying the Exxon Valdez spill provide a comprehensive synthesis of scientific information on long-term spill effects.

Comprehensive manual for understanding and carrying out marine mammal rescue activities for stranded seals, manatees, dolphins, whales, or sea otters.

At an increasingly global scale, aquatic scientists are heavily entrenched in understanding the fate of marine ecosystems in the face of human-altered environments. Oil spill disasters, especially large-scale ones like the 2010 Deepwater Horizon tragedy, have left uncertain and indelible marks on marine ecosystems. Impacts of Oil Spill Disasters on Marine Habitats and Fisheries in North America contains independent scientific findings and critical reviews from experts researching the impacts of the Exxon Valdez, Ixtoc I, and Deepwater Horizon oil spills on coastal fishery resources. Comprised of three sections, this seminal work: Details the physiological effects of oil-derived compounds on fishes, presenting results from field and laboratory investigations Addresses the science of assessing the impacts of oil spills and oil response measures on coastal habitats, with an emphasis on salt-marsh ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico Explores the quantified and potential impacts of oil spills on population and community dynamics of commercial and recreational fishery species Provides newly released results from the 25-year recovery of marine mammals, birds, and fishes following the Exxon Valdez spill Chapters discuss new techniques for collecting and processing blood samples for toxicity testing, new aerial radar techniques for detecting unseen oil on marshes, consequences of oil prevention measures (such as diverting fresh water to estuaries or building sand berms to stop oil) on coastal fishery resources, and non-traditional methods for assessing the herring stock in Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA following the Exxon Valdez disaster.

Since the early 1970s, experts have recognized that petroleum pollutants were being discharged in marine waters worldwide, from oil spills, vessel operations, and land-based sources. Public attention to oil spills has forced improvements. Still, a considerable amount of oil is discharged yearly into sensitive coastal environments. Oil in the Sea provides the best available estimate of oil pollutant discharge into marine waters, including an evaluation of the methods for assessing petroleum load and a discussion about the concerns these loads represent. Featuring close-up looks at the Exxon Valdez spill and other notable events, the book identifies important research questions and makes recommendations for better analysis ofâ€"and more effective measures againstâ€"pollutant discharge. The book discusses: Inputâ€"where the discharges come from, including the role of two-stroke engines used on recreational craft. Behavior or fateâ€"how oil is affected by processes such as evaporation as it moves through the marine environment. Effectsâ€"what we know about the effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on marine organisms and ecosystems. Providing a needed update on a problem of international importance, this book will be of interest to energy policy makers, industry officials and managers, engineers and researchers, and advocates for the marine environment.