The Davis Strait - DCE - Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi

Autumn (September-November)
During autumn the near-coastal offshore areas are still classified as the most
sensitive areas (high or extreme) with respect to oil spills (Fig. 11.3.2). Auks
and seaducks from a variety of breeding locations now return to the assessment
area, boost bird densities and add to the human use factor. The baleen
whales gradually start their migration southwards, but densities remain
high throughout most of the period. The northern shrimp and snow crab
fishery is still important.
During autumn also the middle offshore block in the south is classified as
highly sensitive to oil spills. This is mainly due to a large influx of auks
(murres, little auks and puffins) and surface feeders (shearwaters, kittiwakes
and fulmars).
Winter (December-April)
In general, winter is the most sensitive period among seasons when considering
absolute sensitivity values and averaged across all offshore areas in the
assessment area. As mentioned above, this is highly influenced by the large
number of oil-sensitive seabirds overwintering in the assessment area.
Once again, the near-coastal offshore areas classify as some of the more sensitive
blocks within the season (Fig. 11.3.2). In addition to use by seabirds,
human use is extensive throughout the period (seabird hunting, northern
shrimp and snow crab fishery) and the wintering area for beluga whales extends
into the northeastern offshore block. During cold winters the southern
areas become increasingly important as the western pack ice may force animals
to the south.
As in spring, the offshore block in the southwest corner of the assessment
area is classified as highly sensitive to oil spill. Again the extensive Greenland
halibut fishery (Fig. 5.1.3) and the whelping area for hooded seals in the
western pack ice during March and April are the main contributors to the
sensitivity index.
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