Chronic oil pollution in Europe - International Fund for Animal Welfare

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Chronic Oil Pollution in Europe
Foreword
Hundreds of thousands of seabirds in Europe are falling victim to a silent killer
known as chronic oiling. Chronic oiling is the continuous stream of oil into the
sea from oil spills and deliberate, illegal discharges of oily waste from vessels.
Oil can affect almost any form of life it comes in contact with and can be
detected in the environment even 30 years after discharge.
Whilst shipping accidents resulting in large spills receive the most attention,
chronic oiling is a constant threat to seabirds, arguably leading to far greater
numbers of casualties over time. Every year chronic oiling amounts to 8 Exxon
Valdez size spills in the EU alone. A small amount of illegally dumped oil in a
crucial seabird habitat can be far more deadly than a large oil spill elsewhere.
Seabirds, especially those that spend most of their time afloat, are particularly
vulnerable to oil because even the smallest amount destroys the insulating and
waterproofing abilities of their feathers.
IFAW is proud to release this comprehensive report investigating the true
scale of chronic oiling in EU waters and its impact on bird populations.
European waters are blighted by oil. More effective legislation, better
implementation and enforcement as well as further scientific research are
needed to save Europe’s marine environment and wildlife from chronic oiling.
As well as trying reducing the discharge of oil, IFAW, working in partnership
with the International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC), is the world's
leading international oiled wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization.
Since 1989 when IFAW supported groups responding to the massive Exxon
Valdez oil spill in Alaska, IFAW’s oiled wildlife rescue team works alongside
local groups, rehabilitators and veterinarians aiming to provide the best
achievable care for oiled wildlife globally and to develop practical and
achievable prevention strategies.
Chronic oiling is not a problem confined to EU waters. Penguins are oiled due
to illegal bilge dumping along the coasts of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.
IFAW has assisted rehabilitation groups in South America with the rescue and
rehabilitation of over a thousand birds and developed the IFAW Penguin
Network.
It’s hard to imagine the suffering and damage caused by oil pollution and
even harder to accept that much of this is caused by negligence or bad
practice. We hope that the EU can be an example in enforcing existing and
new legislation which can help save hundreds of thousands of sea birds and
other marine animals.
Fred O’Regan
Executive Director, IFAW