Last week (November 5) a Korean Cargo ship under piloted navigation scraped a column
on the Oakland Bay Bridge damaging the ship causing it to dump some 58,000 gallons of
bunker fuel into the Bay. While it is too early yet in determining an estimate on the
economic impacts associated from the oil spill, there are a variety of areas impacted
that provide a starting point for such an analysis.

Economic impacts on areas such as the fisheries, wildlife, and tourism have been on the
forefront of California’s political leaders.  Certainly, they have focused their attention
to safety concerns and clean-up first, but the economic implications are foremost on their
minds. For example, San Francisco’s Mayor Gavin Newsom issued a press statement that
identified that “We are very concerned about the economic impacts the oil spill has had
on the city’s not just fishing industry but tourism industry as well”

Along with visiting Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, eating Dungeness crab from the Bay
is an essential part on any tourist’s itinerary.  And this time of year during the crabbing season
it is also a Thanksgiving treat for many Bay area and California residents. Unfortunately, the
season may not be fruitful. 

The crabbing industry in California revolves around the Dungeness crab species.  The
estimated dollar value to be paid by processors for crab in 2007 was going to be around
$2.90 a pound.  In 2004, crab fishermen were paid $1.70 a pound and brought in 23.7
million pounds in the second-largest seasonal catch in California since the state began
keeping track in 1915. In 2003-04, they hauled in 21.1 million pounds, state officials say.
The record catch of 26.3 million pounds came in 1976-77.

                                                        


But the Dungeness populations can fluctuate dramatically from year to year. For example,
in the 2001-02 season, just 3.6 million pounds were caught from Monterey to the Oregon border.

Prior to the spill, estimates for this year’s take were expected between $50 and $58 million.

However, fearing a food contamination scandal similar to the E. coli scare in Salinas Valley with
lettuce, the Crab Boat Owners Association voted unanimously to ask Governor  Schwarzenegger
to delay the regular opening of crab season on Nov. 15. The delay could last a week, two weeks
or more — until all the oil is cleaned up and the crabs outside the Golden Gate are certified
fit for consumption. And even though the Crab Boat Owners Association members voted in support
of government action to delay the season, Governor Schwarzenegger issued executive order
delaying opening day until Dec. 1, or when State Fish and Game officials decide it is safe.

Commercial crabbers recognized that the delay would mean taking a huge financial hit and losing
the best two weeks of the season specifically during Thanksgiving, a time when consumers are hungry
for crab and while the crab are near the Bay and are the most plentiful.

Prior to the Governor’s executive order, waiting made the crab boat operators nervous. Crabbers
were worried that some commercial fishermen from outside the Bay Area, lured by the prospect of
wholesale prices as high as $2.90 a pound, could break ranks and go fishing. That, in turn, would
have provoked a mad dash to set out crab traps by all fishermen, regardless of the oil in the water.
One problem is that most of the near-shore crabs live in the area currently contaminated by the oil
spill — from the mouth of the Golden Gate out to the Farallone Islands, and all the way up to Point
Reyes. Fishermen have dubbed this triangular zone the "bud hole" because it offers the most
Dungeness crab — usually supplying half the take of a typical Bay Area fisherman during the first
30 days of the season. Fishermen at Pillar Point can fish outside that prime crab zone but don't want
to risk breaking ranks. But some say that San Francisco crab boat operators are worse off even if they
were to catch crab outside the spill zone, many of them would be towing them back through the Bay
in live crab tanks that take on water as they go. The other, problem is that as the oil moves, few places
are really safe.

Commercial fishermen are also upset with sports fishermen, whose Dungeness crab season opened two
weeks ago. These recreational fishermen have continued to take party boat trips out to catch crab in
areas they claim aren't affected by the oil spill.

Commercial crabbers say it only takes one contaminated crab to ruin the whole season for everyone.
But on Wednesday, November 14, State Fish and Game officials announced that the season will open
on November 15th.  The State left open most of the region's crab fishery despite worries about
contamination from last week's oil spill. The State Department of Fish and Game announced that
the affected areas in the ban only include San Francisco Bay and three miles of coastal waters
from San Pedro Point in San Mateo County to the Point Reyes Lighthouse in Marin County. The closed
area will not affect most of the commercial Dungeness crab fishery. However, Crabbers will not be
able to unload crabs in San Francisco, reducing contamination from the oil but must deliver their
catch to buyers in Half Moon Bay or Bodega Bay.

In addition to the impacts on crabs, the spill has Marin’s largest oyster company closed temporarily.
As a precautionary step, the Drakes Bay Oyster Company has halted production at their farm until
damage assessment is completed. Oil has made its way to the Drakes Estuary, which is located on
the south side of the Pt. Reyes National Seashore, putting the state’s largest oyster crops in danger.
According to the company’s owner, Drakes Bay produces “more than 80% of Marin County’s $3.3 million
in farmed shellfish annually.” This accounts for more than half of California’s oyster crop.
Prolonged delays in production could force the company to close. As it stands, the company is facing
millions of dollars worth of product losses and a good year and a half without oyster crop production.

The sea lions and other marine mammals have largely avoided exposure to the oil, and the stench of bunker
fuel that had hung over the bay has dissipated. But dark, patchy slicks continue to float in some areas
and several beaches remained closed as teams in yellow hazmat suits shoved sticky globs of oil and sand
into plastic bags.

The Oiled Wildlife Care Network at the University of California at Davis which is providing the service
to wildlife has inventoried that over 1300 birds have been recovered, of which 590 have been found dead
caused by the oil.

                                                       

In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Jen Kovecses, an aquatic ecologist with the San
Francisco group Baykeeper, said fishermen were right to be worried about the health impacts of
the bunker fuel — not just on crab, but on other bottom-feeding fish in the area. She explained
that the oil is a mixture of materials that will at first float on the top of the water, posing the greatest
threat to sea birds. Over time, however, the materials separate and the oil begins to sink, attaching
itself to sand or twigs and entering crab territory. "Then it does become an issue for whatever
organisms live on the ocean bottom," she said. "As it’s being pushed up on the beaches and pushed
back down, it will be pushed back into deeper parts of the water. It's something we should start
worrying about now."  Kovecses added that if ingested, the toxic tar could also harm other bottom
-feeding fish in the area like halibut.

Over the weekend, the spill forced the organizers of the San Francisco Triathlon to make it a
biathlon: about 900 athletes, including dozens hoping to gain points to qualify for the Olympic
Games, weren't allowed to swim in the bay so it revolved around running and bicycling. 


                          
  

In addition the California State Park Service temporarily closed Angel Island and canceled all public
ferry service to the popular hiking and biking destination. However the San Francisco Convention &
Visitors Bureau, SFCVB identified that ferries to Alcatraz remain in operations and doing a brisk
business. The SFCVB reported that none of the water -based tour companies have reported any
change in business. No impact on tourism.

The SFCVB identified that it is too soon to know whether the spill will cost the city tourism dollars.
But city officials will work with the Convention & Visitors Bureau to compare hospitality revenue
from this November to the same period last year to determine if any noticeable loss.
 

Berkeley, City Manager Phil Kamlarz has issued a proclamation restricting access to all Berkeley
waterfront areas until further notice. Visitors are being asked to stay 50 feet away from the
shoreline. Yellow caution tape was strung along the Berkeley waterfront, and police set up a
checkpoint at the main entrance to the city's marina on Sunday, November 9th. The map below
illustrates the directions of the oil spill


            


The oil spill has reached Pacifica along the coastline and in the Bay as far south as
Redwood City.

Bay area beach closures still in affect;
* Clipper Cove Beach, T.I
* Aquatic Park
* Municipal Pier
* Ft. Point
* Baker Beach (Heavy Oil)
* China Beach (Heavy Oil)
* Ft. Baker
* Mile Rock Beach
* Kirby Cove (Heavy Oil)
* Rodeo Beach (Heavy Oil)
* Tennessee Valley
* Muir Beach (Heavy Oil)
* Angel Island (Heavy Oil) Open to public, but shoreline closed
* Keller Beach
* Ferry Point
* Point Isabel
* Baxter Creek to Lucretia Edwards Park
* Coastal Access point to Cliffside; Pt. Richmond
* Middle Harbor Regional Park
* Steep Ravine Beach (Mt. Tamalpais)
* Red Rock Beach (Mt. Tamalpais)
* Crissy Field Beach (booms in place)
* Stinson Beach
* Linda Mar Beach
* Rockaway Beach
* Sharp Park Beach
* Ocean Beach has an advisory posted
* San Francisco Piers 1-39 Booms in place

Californians are very conscious stewards of the San Francisco Bay and its environs.
So far to date, over 1500 people have volunteered to help with the cleap-up.  However, many
have had to be turned away given the oil is toxic, it takes trained personnel to deal with the
issues of the clean-up.  But officials are asking for volunteer assistance in documenting observations
and that people take photos and write down their observations in the effort to help with the
clean-up. The City of San Francisco along with the Coast Guard can provide direction to volunteers
related ot these efforts.

In the meantime, crabbing will proceed and it will only be time that brings to light the economic
and environmental costs from this oil spill.