ABSTRACT
The activities of the oil production and transport industries in the polar regions of the world represent a continuous risk for releases of petroleum to these marine environments. While oil production has progressed for several decades in the American Arctic, more recently focus has been placed on large oil and gas elds in the European Arctic (e.g., Barents Sea region). Despite strict governmental regulations being
placed on the oil industry in these areas, small accidental releases from exploration and production may have impacts on the local marine environment. In addition, the possibilities of blowouts and oil tanker accidents represent a continuous threat to these vulnerable polar environments.
