Summary: The Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacted several ‘at-risk’ industries along the Northern Gulf including commercial and recreational fishing, tourism, and other enterprises tied to natural resources. This study examined how the oil spill affected renewable resource communities and groups, drawing comparisons to the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS) in terms of ecological, cultural, social, and economic damage and disruption, as well as potential long-term impacts. Over 21 years of research has documented human impacts of the EVOS with a focus on the community of Cordova, AK. This research focused on the community of Bayou La Batre, AL and made social scientific comparisons to Cordova.
Project Dates: July 2010 – June 2011
Lead Agency: Oklahoma State University
Funder: NSF-RAPID
Contact: Duane A. Gill
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