At an increasingly global scale, aquatic scientists are heavily entrenched in understanding the fate of marine ecosystems in the face of human-altered environments. Oil spill disasters, especially large-scale tragedies like Exxon Valdez (EV) and Deepwater Horizon (DWH), have left uncertain and indelible marks on marine ecosystems. This reference addresses EV impacts to the Prince William Sound ecosystem 20-years later, chronic effects to pink salmon, waterfowl and sea otters, and the collapse of the herring fishery.