Current Activities

Mark currently manages and actively participates in oil-related research projects in Alaska and is involved in biological review of potentially endangered herring stocks in Prince William Sound and Southeast Alaska. Recent activity includes a status review of Pacific herring in Lynn Canal, Alaska (chair); intensive field research to understand the residual distribution and lingering bioavailability of oil spilled in Alaska by the M/V Selendang Ayu in 2004; and planning efforts that may lead to attempts to restore Prince William Sound herring (writer and scientific advisor). He also serves on the cross-divisional Habitat and Ecological Process Research team within the Alaska Fisheries Science Center. Mark’s research continues to demonstrate the high toxicity of oil constituents (polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons).

Background

Mark received his B.A. in 1975 from Gustavus Adolphus College and M.Sc. in 1978 from Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia. He has been a principal investigator for numerous research projects involving oil spills and associated research; these include fish embryo toxicity, long-term availability of oil to biota (mussels), development of passive hydrocarbon samplers, sediment contamination, impaired salmon habitat, and interpretation and modeling of hydrocarbon chemistry. Together with colleagues, Mark’s research and publications describe the long-term, insidious effects of oil pollution on fish embryos at parts-per-billion concentrations. These common environmental contaminants are the result of societal reliance on fossil fuels for energy and pose concerns not only for large oil spills but also non-point urban effluent. Mark has authored or coauthored 44 papers (about 25 associated with the Exxon Valdez oil spill) and 21 reports.