Effects of the Braer oil spill on the Shetland seafood industry

The grounding of the oil tanker, Braer, on 5 January 1993 resulted in the spilling of 80000 tonnes of crude oil in the waters off Shetland. There was a serious impact on the seafood industry. In the first place, the physical presence of oil in the water column and on the seabed resulted in fishing and salmon farming being prohibited within a 400 mile Fisheries Exclusion Zone which was established off the southwest of Shetland. This had an obvious and immediate effect on fishing and fish farming activities within the area. The Fisheries Exclusion Zone has gradually been lifted but still remains in force for some shellfish species. In the second place, the enormous world-wide publicity surrounding the oil spill resulted in serious damage to the reputation of Shetland seafood. It became more difficult to sell Shetland seafood at premium prices in the months following the Braer oil spill. The situation now appears to be returning to normal. Finally, and perhaps the most important of all, is the possibility that there may have been some serious long term biological damage to the marine ecosystem. Although there appears to have been full recovery in most areas, there remains some concern regarding herring spawning grounds and shellfish stocks.