UF experts can provide perspectives on oil spill

May 3, 2010

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The following University of Florida experts are available to talk to the news media about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill:

WATER QUALITY, WILDLIFE

• Peter Sheng, professor of civil and coastal engineering, studies ocean circulation and coastal hazards such as oil spills and their impact on ecosystems, including water quality and fisheries.
pete@coastal.ufl.edu; 352-392-1436, ext. 1521; cell, 352-514-6221

• Peter Frederick, research professor in wildlife ecology and conservation, can discuss the ecology of coastal and oceanic birds, as well as information on specific coastal resources that the birds need to survive. pfred@ufl.edu; 352-846-0565

• Karen Bjorndal, director of the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, is an expert in the biology and conservation of sea turtles, seagrasses and nutritional ecology. bjorndal@ufl.edu; 352-392-1126

• Alan Bolten, research professor in the Archie Carr Center, is an expert in the biology of sea turtles. abolten@ufl.edu; 352-392-9166

• Perran Ross, associate scientist in wildlife ecology and conservation, is a sea turtle expert who can discuss the short- and long-term impact of oil spills on all types of ocean life. He suggests that as disruptive as previous oil spills have been, ecosystems are resilient and have bounced back in about a decade’s time.
pross@ufl.edu; 352-392-7137. A look at the potential effects on wildlife and aquatic systems can be found at http://www.wec.ufl.edu/.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

• Stephen Holland, professor of tourism, recreation and sport management, teaches a class on recreation management and development in the coastal zone. He’s an expert in ecotourism, public beach access and recreational fisheries. He did a paper on the effects of a 1979 oil spill on coastal parks in Texas. sholland@ufl.edu; 352-392-4042, ext. 1313

• Chuck Adams, Florida Sea Grant marine economist, is available to talk about the economic values associated with the marine resources of the Gulf region. Here is a link with background on the topic: Florida Ocean and Coastal Economies Report (2008)
http://www.floridaoceanscouncil.org/reports/Florida_Phase_II_Report.pdf. cmadams@ufl.edu; 352-392-1826, ext. 223

• Jim Cato, professor emeritus of food and resource economics, can talk about the productive value of the Gulf of Mexico, an economic overview of industries depended on the Gulf and its changing coastal economics. He is a member of the Florida Ocean and Coastal Council, which did a detailed study of Florida’s economic dependence on a clean and sustainable coast and ocean.
jccato@ufl.edu; 352-214-5962

SEAFOOD QUALITY

• Steve Otwell, Florida Sea Grant seafood safety specialist, can talk about seafood safety following an oil spill. He is well-versed in many seafood-related topics, from the industry to the processing to consumption. He is an expert on Florida’s oyster fishery, the true “canary in the coal mine” for our coastal waters. otwell@ufl.edu; 352-392-4221

• Leslie Sturmer, Florida Sea Grant shellfish extension specialist, is able to field questions about the spill’s potential impact on oysters and clams. LNST@ufl.edu; 352-543-5057

GEOLOGY OF GULF

• John Jaeger, geology professor, can talk about how geological conditions might have contributed to the explosion of the oil well and why it’s been difficult to cap the flow. He also can talk about where similar types of oil wells might be developed off Florida’s coasts. jmjaeger@ufl.edu; 352-846-1381