Question:
"I want to know about the Exxon Valdez oil spill and how it affected marine life?"
Dolphin Girl--Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Answer:
On March 24, 1989, 11.2 million gallons of oil spilt into Prince William Sound of Alaska after Captain Joseph Hazelwood skippered the Exxon Valdez onto Bligh Reef. Exxon was unable to contain the spill during three days of calm weather and smooth seas.
When strong northeasterly winds picked up, the oil was dispersed beyond any hope of containment and wreaked havoc on the pristine ecosystem. Nearly 10,000 square miles were affected by the spill, including:

a national forest
four national wildlife refuges
three national parks
five state parks
four state critical habitat areas
and a state game sanctuary

Wildlife ranging from seabirds and sea otters to whales and bald eagles were covered and killed by the oil. As well, fishing communities lost millions of dollars in potential revenue from destroyed salmon, black cod and herring spawning grounds.
An international team of researchers and scientists has been studying the impacts of the oil spill on the people and environment of the region.
"The wildlife as well as the overall environment of the sound has essentially recovered. The resiliency of nature, combined with the cleanup efforts, has restored this vast and valued resource," Exxon states in its 1999 Update: Prince William Sound, Alaska. According to the Rainforest Action Network, however, the injured ecosystem and human communities have not recovered and the spill continues to be the most damaging oil spill in history.
(Source: Environmental News Network www.enn.com)

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