15/08/2020 - Disaster Management | Mainstorming

IAS Parliament 4 years

KEY POINTS

· The various types of freshwater and marine habitats that exist in nature have different sensitivities to the harmful effects of oil contamination, as well as different abilities to recuperate.

· For example, freshwater organisms are at risk of being smothered by oil that is carried by the current, or of being slowly poisoned by long-term exposure to oil trapped in shallow water or stream beds. In addition, oil can potentially have catastrophic effects on birds and mammals.

· Many birds and animals also swallow oil and are poisoned when they try to clean themselves or when eating oiled prey.

· Fish and shellfish can also digest oil, which could cause changes in reproduction, growth rates or even death. Commercially important species such as oysters, shrimp, mahi-mahi, grouper, swordfish and tuna also could suffer population declines or become too contaminated to be safely caught and eaten.

· Depending on just where and when a spill happens, from a few up to hundreds or thousands of birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, corals and other animals and plants can be killed or injured.

· Other birds and mammals that live near the coast are more susceptible to poisoning.

· The birds are also often affected by oil slicks, sticking to their feathers and causing death by hypothermia.

· The oil prevents them from flying, many birds also end up drowning. Surviving animals are often disorders of the nervous system, liver and lungs. Not to mention the coral reefs , inhabited by a rich ecosystem, and the collateral victims who ingest their contaminated prey.