Valdez, Alaska

Floating ice flow in Valdez Bay.

The harbor seal populations of Prince William Sound and the northern Gulf of Alaska were in
decline before the oil spill for unknown reasons. The spill injured these populations, adding to
the decline, and they are not recovering.

A pit containing a heavy oil residue. The 2001 shoreline survey has provided new insights for possible sources of continued oil contamination. This has stimulated future studies that will focus on the bioavailability of the oil and its impacts on species such as sea otters, harlequin ducks, and their intertidal prey.

Every month about 75 tankers come into Valdez. It takes 18 hours to load each tanker. Each tanker holds anywhere from 175,000 to 1,050,000 barrels of oil.


In Valdez there are huge holding tanks that can hold up to 9.18 million barrels of oil.



The Valdez Marine Terminal and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System began operations in 1977. Between 1977 and 1996, 11 billion barrels of oil were shipped from Port Valdez to refineries in U.S. ports. Do not miss the opportunity to take an interesting tour of the facility


Valdez also has the largest sport fishery for pink salmon, with the majority of fish being caught from shore. This year start looking for king salmon released from the Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery as they return to Valdez.



Valdez has salmon fishing year around, as there is a winter fishery for feeder king salmon for those that brave the ice and snow. However, it is the summer fishery for silvers that is its real attraction.



Marine recreational fisheries are popular in Southcentral Alaska, supporting approximately 486,000 angler-days of effort for all finfish species (2000 estimate). An angler day equals one angler fishing for any part of a day.


So far this Alaskan adventure has been everything we envisioned and expected. There is still plenty of places to see and enjoy.