"Deadly Cargo, worst fears realised as tanker spills....."

headline of the Shetland Times, Friday 8th January, 1993

Karen Osborn with oiled male Eider, superimposed over picture of the grounded Braer From the cover of the SOTEAG report Dealing with the Wildlife Casualties of the Braer Oil Spill, Shetland, January 1993

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Disclaimer

The following is a summary of the events of the grounding of the M.V. Braer in January 1993 and of the effects on wildlife following the spill. It is a summary of an article (edited by myself) which appeared in the 1993 Shetland Bird Report. I accept no responsibility for the accuracy of the text presented, which is based upon already published information as to the sequence of events and the effects on wildlife, although as far as I am aware all references are factual.

All photographs featured in these pages remain copyright of the photographers.

Part One: the grounding, the response and the dispersion of the oil

• The Grounding
• The Initial Response
• The Oil
• Maps of the oil movement

• Coverage of beaches
• Live birds and mammals
• Dead birds and mammals
• Origins of ringed birds

Part Three: the effect on the wintering and breeding seabird populations following the spill

• The effects on wintering seabirds
• The effects on breeding seabirds

• The Braer - A synopsis
• Other Braer related Web sites, Further Reading and References