Lessons
learned: Evaluating scientific sampling
of oil spill effects on sea otters.
An
extensive and diverse array of studies were implemented concurrent
with and for several years
following
the Exxon Valdez oil spill to determine the acute and chronic
effects to sea otters. Additional studies were implemented 1996
to determine the status of sea otter populations relative to recovery
and to determine what factors could be constraining recovery.
The purpose of this paper is to 1) identify studies of sea otters
that are required to effectively evaluate the acute, sub-acute
and potential chronic effects of another spill of similar magnitude,
2) identify studies that will be useful in evaluating recovery
from damages in the context of a restoration endpoint, and 3)
provide a retrospective analysis of the utility of sea otter studies
that were implemented after the 1989 spill.
A
retrospective evaluation of Exxon Valdez oil spill Trustee
Council sponsored sea otter studies [PDF - 101KB] ![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916024907im_/http://www.absc.usgs.gov/staff/download.gif)
Nearshore
Vertebrate Predator Project
![seaotter_staff.jpg (8177 bytes)](seaotter_staff.jpg)