Project Information

Title: Injury to Prince William Sound Spot Shrimp ST05 1992

Project Year and Number: 1992: ST05

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 1991: ST05, 1990: FS15, 1989: FS15

Principal Investigator (PI): Charlie Trowbridge (Alaska Department of Fish & Game)

Managing Agency: ADFG

Assisting Personnel: David Ackley, Linda Brannian, Wayne Donaldson, Ivan Vining

Research Location: Prince William Sound

Restoration Category: Damage Assessment

Injured Resources Addressed: Commercial Fishing, Intertidal Organisms, Subsistence

Abstract: This project is aimed at assessing possible injury to spot shrimp, (Pandalus platyceros), due to oil spilled from the T/V Exxon Valdez, and is a continuation of Fish/Shellfish Study 15 conducted during 1989 and 1990 and Subtidal Study 5 conducted in 1991. Spot shrimp is a representative species of the deep water near shore benthic ecosystem, serving as a food source for a variety of fish and shellfish. Spot shrimp share aspects of their distribution and food habits with other economically important fish and shellfish species (Butler 1980). Spot shrimp themselves support important commercial, subsistence and recreational fisheries in Prince William Sound. This species favors steep, rocky habitat which is found in patches throughout Prince William Sound. Much of this habitat is contained within the traditional harvest area of the spot shrimp commercial pot fishery, which includes the area west of a line from Montague Point to Bidarka Point. A large portion of this harvest area was in the direct path of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Adult spot shrimp, along with other pandalid shrimp, are known to be sensitive (lethal and sublethal effects) to oil contamination (Anderson et al. 1981, Rice et al. 1979, Sanborn and Malins 1980, Stickle et al. 1987, Vanderhorst 1976). Larval and juvenile shrimp are known to be more sensitive than adults: lower concentrations of oil will kill half the study group in less time (Brodersen et al. 1977, Brodersen 1987, Mecklenburg et al. 1977, Rice et al. 1984). Also, larval and juvenile shrimp may be exposed to higher concentrations of oil contamination toxins than adults since larvae occur in surface waters and juveniles tend to inhabit shallow subtidal areas while adults live well below the surface (Barr 1971, Barr 1973, Butler 1964, Butler 1980). Sample collection for spot shrimp takes place in the fall, leaving no time for sample analysis prior to the reporting period at the end of November each year. Consequently, peer reviewers have not had an opportunity to adequately review 1991 results. The Trustee Council has approved a sufficient budget to analyze and report 1991 results which will be forwarded to peer reviewers. Based upon their recommendations, the project will go forward with additional sampling in the fall of 1992 or be terminated. Two budgets appear at the end of this detailed plan. The first is the budget authorized through the end of 1991 sample analysis and reporting (Part I). The second is the budget which may be authorized by the Trustee Council if peer reviewers recommend continued sampling (Part II).


Proposal: View (60 KB)

Reports:
Final Report: View (4,763 KB)

Publications from this Project: None Available