Global Oil Spills and Oiled Wildlife Response Effort: Implications for Oil Spill Contingency Planning

Abstract

ABSTRACT Over the last century there has been a significant increase in the number and size of oil spills to the marine environment due to the global proliferation of oil and gas extraction as well as the number of tankers and other maritime transport infrastructure associated with increased production. Efforts have traditionally been focussed on containment and deflection of oil rather than responding to wildlife. The present study examines total oiled wildlife effort in response to maritime spills for 286 recorded globally. Between 1910 and 1961 there was an average of 1.23 ± 0.43 incidents per year, spilling an average of 114,062 ± 352,512 tonnes of oil per year. These averages increased to 3.83 ± 2.65 events with 123,277 ± 166,735 tonnes of oil spilt per year from 1962 to 1990, and again, from 1991 to 2012 to 6.50 ± 5.17 events with 164,299 ± 290,655 tonnes of oil spilt per year. Offshore platform and tanker spills have accounted for 37% and 27% of this total, respectively. Of the 104 recorded instances where wildlife interactions occurred (40%), spill volume was not related to the total number of animals caught, oiled or pre-emptively; however, it was related to the number of carcasses collected. A lack of planning for Oiled Wildlife Response (OWR) was identified as a contributing factor exacerbating the impact of a spill on wildlife and for resourcing a response. Inadequacies within operator and government contingency planning, to prepare for and sustain a wildlife response for extended periods, can be overcome by using a mobilisation model that integrates wildlife carer networks, government regulatory agencies and operator resourcing via an independent coordinating organisation consisting of a small group of personnel highly experienced and trained in maritime operations and marine science with access to a network of persons with experience in responding to wildlife and their handling, treatment and rehabilitation.