How Did The Exxon Valdez Affect Alaska's Economy

Superior Essays
On March 24, 1989, in Prince William Sound Alaska, the Exxon Valdez was moving South West subsequent to leaving Port Valdez. The ship was carrying fifty million gallons of raw petroleum. The Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker that was heading to Long Beach California. The tank had struck a reef in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, which resulted in the spilling of 260,000 to 750,000 barrel of crude oil. The Exxon Valdez spilled 10.9 million gallons out of its 53 million gallon payload of Crude oil. Eight out of ten tanks on board spilled. The spill spread across 1,100 miles of non-persistent coastline in Alaska, which made Exxon Valdez oil spill the biggest oil spill in the historical backdrop of waters in the US. The spill caused numerous negative impacts on the locals. It had influenced the earth, which made monetary effect the living of the general population, therefore their social perspectives. The oil spill disaster had caused an economic, cultural and social impact on the people in Alaska. The Exxon Valdez oil greatly affected Alaska’s economy. …show more content…
Trades in particular. The Spill hit the anglers the hardest. According to Kimberly Amadeo, the president of WorldMoneyWatch.com. And economic analysis and business strategy “It is recorded that the fishermen and native Alaskan had lost an estimated of $1 billion, while the native fishermen are said to have lost a total of $580.4 million”. All this is because the oil spill affected the reputation of the Alaskan salmon. The Exxon Valdez oil spill damaged the ecosystem and depleted stocks of fishing. Fishing stocks crashed as a result of losing $154.8 million in stocks. Many Alaskan fishermen went bankrupt. Some reports estimated the total economic loss from the Exxon Valdez oil spill to be $2.8 billion. Furthermore, the Exxon Valdez oil spill did not just affect the fisherman and it also affected the tourism industry. Which resulted in a vital financial lost. The Oil spill made it impossible for the tourist to conduct tour packages to Alaska. These tours consist of outdoor activities, charter, and sightseeing boats. The Exxon Valdez oil spill also affected the energy industry in the US. The Prudhoe Bay field in Alaska is accountable for the production of 25% of the residential oil in the US. The oil spill came about to extreme decrease of generation at Prudhoe Bay from 2 million barrels for every day to 800 thousand. Thusly, Los Angeles was significantly influenced; the retail lead-free regular grade gasoline quickly increments …show more content…
It is responsible for the death of an estimated 250,000 seabirds, 3,000 otters, 300 seals, 250 bald eagles and 22 killer whales. The oil spill affected the environment and those living in the area. No one died from the oil spill, but the spill had the worst impact on the marine lives such as seals, sea lions, sea otters, herring, krill, and salmon according to (Alaska Fish & Game Magazine, 1989). Furthermore, the spill almost led to the extinction of the declining population of the harbor seal. According to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council “Only 2 out of 26 species that have been studied by Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council have recovered” implying the other 24 species of wildlife did not make it. The most critical damage was to their spawning and rearing habits. It is recorded by U.S. Coast Guard in 1993, that more than 100 salmon streams were contaminated by the

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