Oil spills devastate marine ecosystems.
Heartbreaking images of birds and sea mammals, coated with tar-like substances and struggling to stay afloat in oil-slicked surf, graphically portray the immediate effects of an oil spill. The long-term effects, however, take place far below the surface and remain for years. Well after the slicks fade, toxins in oil can affect entire populations of marine life, limit commerce the seas provide, pollute the foods we eat and forever alter the ecosystem.
Petroleum-Based Oil
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the effects of an oil spill depend upon the chemical components of the oil, how quickly it spreads and the speed of cleanup. Lighter refined products, like gasoline and kerosene, spread rapidly over the water's surface, making them harder to contain and remove; however, they evaporate quickly and leave little residue behind. Heavier refined oils spread more slowly, making some aspects of cleanup easier. Unfortunately, these oils are "more persistent" and can remain in the water or on beaches for long periods, giving their toxins more time to pollute the environment.
Marine Habitats
Numerous varieties of crustaceans, fish, mammals and birds rely on kelp beds, coral reefs and tidal pools as habitats that offer food, shelter and nurseries. Toxins from oil spills close to shore can kill kelp and other sea grasses. Oil penetrating mud in tidal flats may affect colonies of nesting birds by destroying their food supply. The EPA notes that coral reefs already suffering the initial pollution of an oil spill might receive a second blow from negative effects of "certain cleanup operations."
Fish, Turtles and Sea Mammals
Sea life thrives through complex interactions between fish, birds, mammals and their habitats. According to the EPA, oil spills pose less immediate danger to whales and fish in open water, since they can go deeper or swim away from the spill. Turtles, dolphins, and other marine animals living closer to shore risk death from contact with the oil itself. Breathing fumes from oil may cause damage to the liver, intestines and lungs. They also experience starvation as their food supply dwindles or die after ingesting contaminated plants, fish or crustaceans.
Sea Birds
Feathers coated with oil stick together and prevent birds from flying. This process also impairs their ability to float. As birds drown and sink, they may become prey for fish that pass ingested toxins up along the food chain when they become prey to larger fish or mammals. The EPA notes that exposure to oil toxins can also negatively affect the reproductive abilities of marine life, including sea birds.
Humans and the Marine Ecosystem
Besides the obvious aesthetic ramifications and ill effects of ingesting contaminated fish or other marine life, oil spills impact humans through the fishing industry by depleting populations of fish species and their food sources. Oil spills can also influence water sports like surfing and recreational diving and reduce tourism in coastal communities.
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