Although the amount oil lost was not great in comparison with other spills its effects were important as the spill occurred in sheltered and partially enclosed water, which reduced the dispersal of the oil by wave and current activity.
The water in Alaska are cold, which would have slowed down any degradation.
The setting made the spill more important as the Alaskan area was regarded as a pristine and unspoilt wilderness .
In truth the area of Prince William Sound was not as pristine as it was perceived to be ,as the area had been used for some time by mankind for the fur trade, hunting , fishing, logging and mining