thus preventing flight and causing loss of insulation, or from ingestion of oil 

 during attempts to cleanse themselves. 



Potential effects of OCS-related operations on the near shore environ- 

 ment of the South Atlantic coastal zone are presented below (including 

 dredging, pipeline filling and onshore facility construction, super tanker 

 operations, oil spills) :(17) 



Impact 



Significance 



Biological 



1 

 2 



Biological 



Disruption of near shore, and es- 

 tuarine habitat and ecosystems. 

 Disruption of feeding and breed- 

 ing of birds, fish, reptiles and 

 mammals in intertidal zone. 



3. Decrease in primary and secon- 

 dary productivity. 



4. Disruption of natural drainage 

 and water current patterns. 



5. Toxic and sublethal effects on 

 marine organisms from chronic 

 pollution. 



6. Oiling or lethal effects of 

 spills. 



Non-Biological 



1 . Beach damage. 



2. Navigation hazard. 



3. Aesthetic degradation. 



4. Damage to archaeological or other 

 cultural resources. 



1. 



2. 

 3. 



4. 

 5. 

 6. 



7. 



8. 



Near shore area is nursery for 

 60% of commercial fish. 

 Loss of shell fish beds. 

 Possible interruption of anadro- 

 mous fish migration. 

 Decrease of fresh water supplies. 

 Loss of species diversity. 

 Change of aquatic environment 

 leading to population re- 

 distribution. 

 Disruption of food web. 

 Concentration of toxic fractions 

 through food chain. 



Non-Biological 



1. Loss of recreation value. 



2. Hazards for small craft (fishing 

 boats, shipping). 



3. Possible erosion or siltation 

 problem. 



4. Loss of aesthetic or cultural 

 resources. 



As shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11, there are many important recreation 

 and conservation areas that are vulnerable to oil spill damage because of 

 their coastal locations. 

 5.4 FISH AND SHELLFISH 



The effects of offshore oil and gas development on future fish and shell 

 fish resources fall under several possible headings: 



65 



