ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE BRAER OIL-SPILL AND DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGY FOR THE MONITORING OF CHANGE AND RECOVERY

The environmental impact of the Braer oil spill (85 000 tonnes) in sou th Shetland was unique. Severe wind and wave conditions produced extre mely turbulent sea conditions for the entire period. An oil slick did not form. The adjacent coastline consisted of cliffs with strong dissi pative and reflective properties. The oil (Gulfaks) was very light. Wi nter conditions prevailed with rain and sleet. Some oil was carried on to the land by spray. Visible coastal and intertidal impact was negli gible. A large fraction of oil was dispersed into the water and taken by currents to basins of fine sedimentation in deep water, considerabl e distances from the spill. The monitoring programme has laid emphasis on the marine environment, notably the seabed, both chemically and bi ologically. Sea birds, otters, seals and the important sand eel popula tions will be monitored. Terrestrial and coastal habitats will receive less attention. Fish and salmon farms will also be studied over time. The Ecological Steering Group for the Oil Spill in Shetland (ESGOSS) and its four task groups on terrestrial and ornithological impacts, in tertidal and sublittoral ecosystems, physical and chemical processes, and wider applications are described.