The Strait of Juan de Fuca Intertidal and Subtidal Benthos

摘要

This report presents the second year results of an intertidal and shallow subtidal benthic sampling program at ten sites along the Washington State coast of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The purpose of this program was to provide a quantitative characterization of the marine, shallow-water, bottom communities of the Strait. In the past five years the greater Puget Sound region has seen a dramatic increase in marine crude and refined oil transport. The possibility of Alaskan crude oil transshipment through this region to the Midwest means additional increases are possible in the near future. This tanker traffic increase also increases the risk of catastrophic and chronic oil pollution of the marine environment in this region.