Reopening Fisheries after an Oil Spill: Tainting, Chemical Analysis, and Risks to Human Health

The ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has resulted in widespread closures of fisheries in both state and federal waters, and is causing economic harm to the fishing industry in the region.  Decisions are made to close fisheries in oil-impacted regions, because the USFDA considers fish and shellfish in waters affected by an oil spill to be adulterated, until shown otherwise.  Currently, once oil is no longer present on fishing grounds, organoleptic testing for tainting is used to demonstrate that fish and shellfish are fit for commercial harvest and human consumption.  Generally, negative organoleptic tests are backed up by chemical analysis for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to demonstrate that levels of PAHs are below levels that the USEPA reports may be associated with human health risks.  While simple in theory, this approach is often very difficult to implement and explain.  Drawing on my experiences with the EXXON Valdez, North Cape, and Prestige oil spills, I will discuss the current approach for considering seafood safety following oil spills, associated uncertainties, and approaches for reducing uncertainties.

Tracy Collier currently serves as the science advisor to NOAA’s Oceans and Human Health Program, where he provides science direction in the areas of chemical contaminants, pathogens, and algal toxins and their effects on human and ecosystem health. The OHH Program also investigates benefits from the sea, including the development of novel drugs. Until recently, Dr. Collier was director of the Environmental Conservation Division of NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center, where he supervised a research enterprise comprised of approximately 90 scientists. Dr. Collier received his PhD from the University of Washington in 1988, and he holds faculty appointments at Oregon State University and Washington State University. He serves on a number of regional, national, and international panels and committees, and has over 125 scientific publications.