Title: Sea Empress Cost-Benefit Project: Final Report
Author: Environment Agency
Document Type: Monograph
Annotation: Environment Agency Project ID:EAPRJOUT_430, Representation ID: 126, Object ID: 1769
Abstract:
On 15 February 1996 the Sea Empress ran aground on its approach to the Port of Milford Haven, resulting in the loss of 72 000 tonnes (t) of crude oil which subsequently impacted 200 kilometres of the South Wales coastline. The area affected was of considerable conservation importance, being associated witha large number of designated sites including two National Nature Reserves and a Marine Nature Reserve. Much of the affected coastline lies within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park which was designated largely for its coastal Iandscape. Some local industries were particularly affected by the spill. For example, the area has a thriving tourist industry which is closely linked to the coastal environment and its excellent watersports opportunities. The number of tourists visiting the area was lower than predicted from recent trends and limited access to beaches owing to the oil and clean-up operations affected both local and visitor recreational activities. The local economy also has an historical reliance on harvests from commercial fisheries. Following the spill, Fisheries Exclusion Orders caused the cessation of all commercial and recreational fishing activity in a designated area and all associated rivers and streams. Having been removed in nine stages, parts of the ban were still in place until September 1997. In addition to these costs, health effects were reported by the clean-up workers as well as the general Population. In early 1997 the Environment Agency (EA) commissioned Risk & Policy Analysts Limited to develop monetary estimates of the economic impacts of the Sea Empress oil spill and clean-up, and to quantify the risks associated with the movement of oil in UK waters. This Technical Report fully describes a study with the aim of developing monetary estimates of the economic impacts arising from the Sea Empress oil spill and clean-up, and identifying cost-effective risk mitigation measures to prevent future spills.
Publisher: Environment Agency
Subject Keywords: Coastal waters; Rivers; Water pollution; Economic analysis; Industrial pollution; Risk factors; Tourism
Geographic Keywords: Pembrokeshire; Wales
Extent: 361
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:4478
Total file downloads: 322
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