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Country Wildlife Response Profiles
ANGOLA
A Summary of oiled wildlife response
arrangements and resources worldwide
VERSION
31-12-2006
Introduction
The Republic of Angola is located in south-central Africa, bordering Namibia, the Democractic Republic of
Congo and Zambia and a west coast along the Atlantic Ocean. The northern exclave province of Cabinda,
separated from the mainland by the Democratic Republic of Congo, also borders the Republic of the Congo.
Angola’s coastline has a total length of 1.650 km.
The coastal area with extensive coastal wetlands including mangrove areas is characterised by a typical
tropical regime in the northern part and a more temperate one in the south, where the southward warm
Angolan current and the northward cold Benguela current meet and form the Angola-Benguela front. As the
Benguela current is one of the four major coastal upwelling ecosystems in the world, Angola ranks amongst the
most productive ocean systems. It supports an great biodiversity and biomass of zooplankton, fish, seabirds (e.
g. Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus, the White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis and the
Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans), marine mammals (e.g. Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus and
Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae) and 5 species of sea turtles (the Loggerhead Caretta caretta, the
Green Chelonia mydas, the Leatherback Dermochelys coriacea, the Hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata and the
Olive Ridley Lepidochelys olivacea). Near and off shore areas are of high economic importance because of
precious minerals (particularly diamonds) and oil and gas reserves, of which the major fields are found in both
deep and shallow waters off the coast of the northern Provinces of Cabinda and Zaire. The country has
increased its offshore oil-drilling activities in these areas, stretching from the northern border (Cabinda) to
Luanda, near sensitive areas (e.g. numerous cetaceans have been spotted in offshore fields).
Regional Seas
Central and West Africa Regional Sea (southeast Atlantic Ocean).
Past experience
Although Angola is the second largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan after Nigeria, there has been only one
major spill in Angola waters. In 1991 the ABT Summer spilled 260.000 tonnes of oil after an on board explosion
off the coast of Angola. According to the national environmental NGO ‘Ecological Youth of Angola’ (JEA), 14
small spills approximately occur on average every year in Angolan waters, which are mainly caused by
operational discharges at sea.
Response: the role of the authorities
The Environment Department of the Ministry of Petroleum of Angola (MINPET) is responsible for the planning
and management of oil spill response. Since 1995, a national Oil Spill Contingency Plan has been in place. A
recent refreshed plan was published by the MINPET in April 2006, pending its formal approval (the Council of
Ministries is scheduled to meet early next year 2007 to approve and start implementing the Plan). Although this
new national draft does not include a coastline sensitivity map or wildlife vulnerability assessment, the oil
companies that are active in Angola have carried out surveys, especially in the north of Angola; the coastline
south of Luanda is less studied.
The Natural Resources Department of the Ministry of Urban Affairs and Environment will assume responsibility
for dealing with, and a response to oiled wildlife.
Oiled wildlife response
Formal guidelines?
At present, an oiled wildlife plan is not in place. In the context of considerable wildlife problems that were
caused by the long lasting civil war it is doubtful that such a plan will be developed by the authorities as a
priority. Some oil companies in the area have demonstrated their interest in having an oiled wildlife response
plan in place as part of their Tier 2 response obligations.
Response objectives and strategy
© Sea Alarm Foundation, 31-12-2006
This Country Wildlife Profile is subject to the accompanying Terms and Conditions
1
Country Wildlife Response Profiles
ANGOLA
A Summary of oiled wildlife response
arrangements and resources worldwide
VERSION
31-12-2006
At present, an oiled wildlife plan is not in place. In the context of considerable wildlife problems that were
caused by the long lasting civil war it is doubtful that such a plan will be developed by the authorities as a
priority. Some oil companies in the area have demonstrated their interest in having an oiled wildlife response
plan in place as part of their Tier 2 response obligations.
Euthanasia or rehabilitation?
Live animals will be collected and brought to the National Institute for Fisheries Research (INIP) to be
rehabilitated. It is the only centre in Angola with some bird rehabilitation experience, albeit with extremely
limited capacity (a few birds). In case of a larger incident foreign assistance will be needed.
Impact assessment
Dead animals will be collected and made available for scientific impact assessment by the National Institute of
Fisheries Research (INIP), before they will be disposed of.
Notification and early response
In case of an oiled wildlife incident, the Ministry of Urban Affairs and Environment will most likely notify the
Ecological Youth of Angola (JEA) and the National Marine Research Fisheries and allow them to set up a
wildlife response.
Wildlife responders
Only the National Institute for Fisheries Research (INIP, Ministry of Fisheries) rehabilitates seabirds, but on a
limited scale of a few animals a year. These animals are collected by NGO’s from beaches and mangroves.
Apart from studying the national fisheries, the INIP also undertakes research on marine pollution issues.
The Maiombe Network aims to enhance collaboration and exchange of information between Angolan
environmental NGOs .A number of these organisations may be important sources of information and local
knowledge in case of a future oiled wildlife incident. The Ecological Youth of Angola (JEA), which acts as the
network’s coordinator, works actively in environmental protection, mobilization and raising awareness on
marine pollution issues including oiled wildlife. The organization, which is represented in five of the eight
coastal provinces, has an extensive national network of contacts in authorities, NGOs and industry. It carries
out beach monitoring and collects oiled live and dead animals, the former of which are delivered to the INIP for
treatment. Other well informed NGOs and active members of the Maiombe Network are the Association of
Conservation of Environment, Bloc Vert, Développement Rural Intégré (Acadir) and the Angolan Association
for the Environment.
In addition, local information can be obtained from marine research institutes such as the Marine Environment
Department (Faculty of Science, University of Luanda) and the Natural History National Museum, which is
Angola’s focal point for the Africa Mangrove Network (AMN, a network of African NGOs working in the field
marine and coastal conservation). The Marine Research Institute (IIM) is involved in international research on
the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) in collaboration with partners in Namibia and South
Africa.
Cooperation between stakeholders
In addition to close cooperation between Angolan NGO’s including within the coastal MAIOMBE Network, also
regular meetings take place between wildlife authorities and the NGO community.
Permanent facilities
The National Institute for Fisheries Research has a very limited and small permanent facility for wildlife
response in Luanda with a capacity to accommodate few oiled birds. The Veterinarians at the centre also
perform necropsies.
© Sea Alarm Foundation, 31-12-2006
This Country Wildlife Profile is subject to the accompanying Terms and Conditions
2
Country Wildlife Response Profiles
ANGOLA
A Summary of oiled wildlife response
arrangements and resources worldwide
VERSION
31-12-2006
Current processes
n.a.
Documentation and references
General references
ITOPF Country Profile.
Terms and Conditions
These Country Wildlife Profiles are provided in good faith as a guide only and are based on information
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© Sea Alarm Foundation, 31-12-2006
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Sea Alarm Foundation either for commercial distribution or with addition, deletion or amendment.
© Sea Alarm Foundation, 31-12-2006
This Country Wildlife Profile is subject to the accompanying Terms and Conditions
3