Similarly, prospective offshore drilling in the 
Georges Bank has been a concern, because of pos- 
sible environmental degradation of that area of the 
ocean. While there is certain to be a degree of envi- 
ronmental damage associated with this development, 
it is felt that most of these effects will be localized 
in the area immediate to the drilling facilities. A 
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution report states 
that present evidence “does not suggest that a single 
major offshore spill could be a long-term threat to 
total fish stocks.” ** The report also noted, however, 
that many unknowns remain to be worked out con- 
cerning offshore spills. What is known about the im- 
pacts of oil pollution in the ocean on fisheries and 
fishing from accidental or chronic (operational) spills 
comes from observations in the Gulf Coast where 
offshore petroleum development has existed for 25 
years. 
Although the activities in the Gulf have increased 
in recent years, many of these drilling rigs have 
been assembled in the midst of productive fisheries, 
which continue to produce healthy landings. A Na- 
tional Academy of Sciences study found that the 
catch has remained high despite 30 years of oil 
spills from accidents and chronic (operational) 
sources totaling an estimated 1.1 million barrels.°° 
Although the long-range, cumulative effects of oil 
spills on fish and their environment are not known, 
most ironmental concerns over development. of 
Georges Bank oil and gas come less from fears of 
offshore oi spills than over-the—tisraption ofthe 
SS ee SSS 
coastal~environment from transportation of oil to 
the shore—both from the oil itself_and from _near- 
shgre_dredging. As the Woods Hole report states, 
“Whether pollution problems nearshore are increased 
or decreased by offshore development is a function 
of the changes caused by offshore oi! in the entire 
network of transportation, handling and processing 
of petroleum in the coastal area.” #4 
Except for an unpredictable massive oil spill, 
the environmental disruptions do not appear to have 
the potential of disrupting fishing activities in one of 
the world’s most productive fishing zones. Even such 
an event does not spell doom for the area. Ten years 
after the Torrey Canyon disaster, the nearby coastal 
area, once covered with dil sludge, seems to have re- 
covered to its previous condition. On the other hand, 
oil from the Arga Merchant spill has resulted in some 
mutagenic effects to fish eggs. 
One of the larger issues revolves around the com- 
petition for ocean space. Several potential drilling 
sites, historically successful fishing areas, were not 
7? Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Effect on Commer- 
cial Fishing of Petroleum Development off the Northeastern 
United States—A Report from the: Marine Policy and Ocean 
Management Program. Woods Hole, Mass., April 1976. 
*° National Academy of Sciences, Ocean Affairs Board. Petro- 
leum in the Marine Environment. Washington, D.C., 1975. 
%* Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, op. cit. note 29, 
p. 24. 
made available to the oil companies. The actual 
space occupied by the rigs themselves is nearly in- 
significant. The Woods Hole study estimates that 
a realistic estimate for the “hypothetical reduction 
of catch on Georges Bank due to the presence of 
platforms is probably .. . 0.06 percent.” %? 
A potential danger to fishing is the presence on 
the seafloor of drilling operation debris that can snag 
fishing gear. The U.S. Geological Survey can, and 
does, require OCS leaseholders to drag a production 
area when it is shut down. Wells that are sealed off 
below the seafloor can become exposed if seafloor 
sediments shift. The Geological Survey reports few 
complaints from fishing interests in the Gulf of 
Mexico in recent years about seafloor obstructions 
from OCS operations.*° 
Another major factor in environmental protection 
critical to fisheries is the condition of the Nation’s 
estuaries and related wetlands. (See chapter IV for 
a discussion of coastal wetlands protection.) 
Many fish species use the estuaries as nursery 
areas, but spend their adult lives in the open sea. 
Many other marine species spend their entire life 
in a single estuarine system, and still others use 
estuaries as a passage between the sea and rivers. 
For example, about 75 percent of commercial fish 
and 95 percent of recreational fish spend some part 
of their life histories in estuaries. 
Of those life forms that are either sedentary or 
forage a smali area, clams, oysters, crabs, lobsters, 
and the like have economic significance. The estu- 
arine zone also plays an important role in the life 
cycles of menhaden, salmon, shrimp, and many 
other species of economic importance. 
Population growth and industrial development 
have, in. numerous places, caused severe and dam- 
aging pollution to estuarine areas. The discharge of 
untreated human sewage and stormwater runoff from 
from cities can cause bacterial contamination. Dis- 
charges of decomposable organic materials from 
human sewage and some industrial wastes deplete 
dissolved oxygen resources. Further, toxic materials 
from industrial wastes, land runoff, pesticides, herbi- 
cides, and chemical manufacturing plants may di- 
rectly kill fishery resources, cause damage to their 
reproduction capacity, alter behavior, contaminate 
tissue, and cause mutagenic effects. 
Some materials act as fertilizers and stimulate the 
growth of certain life forms at the expense of others. 
Inert materials such as sediments fill in estuarine 
areas and smother bottom-dwelling life forms. 
Sample problem areas around the country include 
the following: 
New England—During the late summer, dissolved 
oxygen depletion is common in Boston Harbor; 
some areas have nuisance algae growths. Shellfish 
“Tbid., p. 23. 
“Personal communication, Conservation Division, U.S. Geo- 
logical Survey. Department of the Interior. 
I{I—22 
