Monitoring seabird populations in areas of oil and gas development on the Alaskan Continental Shelf: A computerized pelagic seabird atlas for Alaska
January 1, 2000
Seabirds are the most visible and vulnerable victims of oil pollution in marine waters. As demonstrated by the "Exxon Valdez" spill (Piatt et al. 1990), we cannot predict when or where an accident leading to pollution might occur in Alaska, or where oil will eventually end up traveling from a point source of pollution. It is therefore prudent to document the abundance and distribution of seabirds throughout Alaska in order to: i) assist in the planning and development of future oil fields, ii) identify areas with significant and predictable aggregations of seabirds so that these areas might be avoided, if possible, in the extraction and shipment of oil, and, iii) mitigate and assess the impact of oil pollution if and when it occurs.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2000 |
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Title | Monitoring seabird populations in areas of oil and gas development on the Alaskan Continental Shelf: A computerized pelagic seabird atlas for Alaska |
Authors | John F. Piatt, R. Glenn Ford |
Publication Type | Report |
Publication Subtype | Other Report |
Index ID | 70187942 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Alaska Science Center |