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Download Oil Spill Response - Implications for Marine Conservation
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Scottish Natural Heritage Oil Spill Response – Implications for Marine Conservation Dr John M Baxter Scottish Natural Heritage Overview • SNH and JNCC roles and responsibilities • SNH and JNCC Response to an Oil Spill • Environmental Concerns • Dispersant Use Scottish Natural Heritage Roles and Responsibilities • SNH - First point of contact for advice on implications of oil pollution incidents affecting the coast and the sea area within territorial waters • JNCC - First point of contact for advice on implications of oil pollution incidents affecting the coast and the sea area outwith territorial waters Scottish Natural Heritage Oil Spill Response Advice • SNH and JNCC each have an oil spill response adviser on call 24/7 • Provide expert advice on sensitive nature conservation features (e.g. sites, birds, marine mammals etc.) • Advise on the suitability of dispersant use • Have representation on the Environment Group Scottish Natural Heritage Environmental Concerns • The impacts to wildlife from an oil spill are caused by: – The physical nature of the oil – The chemical components • Different oils behave differently in the environment – Makes it difficult to predict exact impacts of oil • Seabirds are most vulnerable to contamination by oil Scottish Natural Heritage Impacts on Cetaceans • • Highly dependent on the species and their behaviour Internal effects: Hypothermia Lung congestion and damage Gastrointestinal ulceration and haemorrhaging due to ingestion Impairment of immune system • External effects: Eyes and skin lesions from continuous exposure Decreased body mass due to restricted diet Stress • • Scottish Natural Heritage Impacts on Pinnipeds • Need to surface more to breathe More vulnerable than cetaceans • Oil contamination causes loss of insulation properties in fur Leads to hypothermia in seal pups • Disguises scents between mother and pups Scottish Natural Heritage Impacts on Fish and Shellfish • • • • • Data are limited on the impacts of oil on fish Eggs, larvae and juvenile fish are comparatively vulnerable Dispersant can also have toxic effects on fish Filter-feeding shellfish are easily contaminated Can enter food chain: Humans Seabirds and marine mammal predation Scottish Natural Heritage Impacts on Benthos • • • • Data are limited on the impacts of oil on benthos Eggs and larvae are comparatively vulnerable Potential for smothering Ingestion through filtering contaminated water or sediments Scottish Natural Heritage Impacts on Coast and Intertidal • • • • • Smothering Ingestion Contamination of sediments Increased drag on seaweeds Implications of clean-up operations Scottish Natural Heritage Effects on Seabirds • • • • • • • • • Dehydration and starvation Loss of body weight and general condition More vulnerable to predation Loss of buoyancy Reduction the waterproofing properties of the feathers Hypothermia Reduction in ability to fly Immune system compromised Reproductive impacts Scottish Natural Heritage Coastal and Marine Resource Atlas • CMRA has been developed to: Replace the “Atlas of Nature Conservation Sites Sensitive to Oil Pollution” (1990) which was used for oil spill contingency planning Update the information to include recently designated sites Produce digital maps for a more flexible tool for contingency planning • Accessed via www.magic.gov.uk Scottish Natural Heritage Scottish Natural Heritage Scottish Natural Heritage At sea response • Capture and recovery • Dispersants • Do nothing Scottish Natural Heritage At coast response • • • • • Recover beached oil Protective booming Identification of sacrificial areas Do nothing Oiled wildlife recovery Scottish Natural Heritage Dispersant Use • • • • Decision on use of dispersants needs to be made on a case by case basis Dispersants not suitable for all types of oil Dispersants not suitable in all locations Pros and cons of dispersant use need to be considered BEFORE they are used Scottish Natural Heritage Dispersant Use Pros and Cons • Potential benefits: Removes oil from sea surface Prevents oil slicks from beaching Reduces potential impacts on wildlife • Potential disbenefits Reduces chances of physical removal of oil Does not remove oil from marine system Increase likelihood of oil entering marine food-chain Introduces further chemicals to already stressed environment Increases likelihood of oil becoming entrapped in sediments Scottish Natural Heritage Thank you
