Conclusion
The issue of oil and gas development in Bristol Bay is very current, and even as I put this website together new developments are occurring. Just this month (April 2007) the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the 2007-2012 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program became available (MMS, 2007). One fairly recent development that this new statement emphasizes for the North Aleutian Basin region is the importance of this area as habitat for the North Pacific Right Whale. This highly endangered species is believed to be susceptible to impacts as a result of oil development. If an oil spill were to occur in Bristol Bay while individual North Pacific Right Whales were present, it could have the potential to deeply impact the remaining population of this species (MMS, 2007). The statement also emphasizes that a spill near a rookery or haul-out spot for the endangered Steller's sea lion could have damaging effects on that species (MMS, 2007).
As described in this website, a variety of organisms found in Bristol Bay are know to suffer impacts as a result of offshore oil development and associated oil spills. Furthermore, many people rely on the success of Bristol Bay's current fishing industry for their livelihoods. Thus, great caution must be taken to assure that the wildlife and ecosystems of Bristol Bay can continue to exist, both today and in the future.
Bristol Bay
Photo by William Bowan (1)