INTERIM-REPORT OF THE MARINE MONITORING PROGRAM ON THE BRAER OIL-SPILL

The Marine Laboratory in Aberdeen (MLA) was commissioned by the Scotti sh Office to monitor the effects of the Braer oil spill. The article d escribes the programme, the establishment of the exclusion zone and th e results of the sampling of water, commercially exploited fish, and s ediments. Monitoring of the oil in fish and shellfish indicated that t ainting and contamination was mainly confined to the west side of the southern peninsula of Shetland. Salmon from fish farms within the tain ted area were heavily tainted. The levels of oil in water at the most contaminated sites had significantly reduced by February.