19 years later, Exxon oil spill before high court

Economic staple disappears
The herring catch used to kick-start the entire town after the quieter winter months. Herring meant a quick bounty for fishermen and ready cash for boat insurance, equipment repairs and new gear. For many, it represented a half year’s earnings. Herring also brought auxiliary ships, processor vessels, and plane crews for spotting the fish.

“A whole lifestyle has gone,” said restaurant owner Libbie Graham. “Life was great. I mean, you worked hard but you were rewarded for it.”

The year before the spill, Cordova received $1.2 million — or 2 percent of the value of fish caught — through the state’s raw fish tax, according to Joyce, the mayor. Post-spill, the town’s annual cut has averaged around $500,000, reflecting the loss of the herring and the falling price of salmon.

“When our budget is just $6 million, that’s a big hit for us,” Joyce said.

Steve Picou, a sociologist with the University of South Alabama who has been researching the effects of the spill on Cordova residents, said that initially, reports of stress and depression were directly linked to the loss of jobs for fishermen and the damage to the environment so crucial to Alaska Natives who hunt and fish for their food. Later, he said, the stress increased because of the drawn-out court battle with Exxon.

“I find it not only ironic but tragic that the very process that is supposed to resolve the social impacts of the Exxon Valdez spill — that is, litigation — has, over time, become a source of stress and disruption itself,” Picou said.

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