Monitoring the rich diversity of biological resources in Prince William Sound and the Copper River Delta ecosystems is an important part of the Science Center’s work. In the aftermath of the 1989 oil spill, it was clear that baseline data collection through monitoring is critical in order to mitigate damages to our environment, whether the damages are caused by nature or man.

PWSSC biological research efforts are focused primarily on marine, intertidal and estuarine resources. Located in one of Alaska’s major fishing ports at the edge of the northern Gulf of Alaska, PWSSC staff observe and study one of the most seasonally fluctuating coastal ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean. Prince William Sound’s dramatic fjords, the expansive lake and river systems of the Copper River, and the vast freshwater wetlands and estuarine mudflats of the Copper River Delta are the focus of the Center’s present and future research.

Studies conducted by our researchers provide answers to questions about resource use and sustainability, the impacts of oil development and transportation, foods webs which support coastal and inland economies, and about issues associated with the management, harvest and processing of fish and shellfish.

PWSSC recognizes that ecological change is resulting as shifts in atmospheric and ocean climate occur. We want to contribute to understanding this change, particularly when it threatens livelihoods and poses difficult problems for those managing and enhancing our region’s important living resources.