Sea Life Threatened by Oil Spills - Essay Example

Toll rises as sea life feed at oil spill Introduction: The research that I have been read and accessed over the past few years reflect that the there has been seen that the environment has been changing over the years due to human intervention. The degree of degradation of the environment and the toil that it has undertaken due to human action has steady increased at an alarming rate since the coming of the industrial revolution in the 19th century. The facts that have been collected reflect that in the period after the Second World War the affect of the oil spills have had a highly negative effect on the flora and fauna across the globe. In the following paper I shall attempt to critically analyze the current challenges that are being posed to the marine environment and focus especially on marine life and the toll it has taken due to oil spills. Oil Spills: The research that I have undertaken reflects that one of the most potential dangers to the stability and sustainability of the marine ecology (NOAA 2008). Oil is introduced to the marine system due to various reasons such as choric and careless habits while utilizing and disposing oil and oil products. Research projects reveal that the most of the waste oil in the ocean consists of oily stromwater which is disposed into it by the cities and farms and fro untreated industrial waste (International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited). But the most significant cause of increase in pollution in the marine environment due to oil is spilling of oil due to accidents and carelessness of procedure during well drilling and repairs. These may occur during any stage of drilling and repair operations while oil is being produced in offshore wells or is being transported offshore by pipelines, flow lines or tankers. Offshore drilling has been observed to contribute 2.1 percent to the waste oil in the ocean each year, while 5.2 percent is seen to add due to offshore transportation (Kaushik P 2009). The concern over oil spills have been expressed by environmentalists for many decades.  “Sewage oftentimes contributes to over-enrichment of waters,” wrote Nicholas Lenssen, author of the World watch report. “In the process, an overabundance of nutrients causes algal blooms and rapid growth of other aquatic plants.  When these plants die, decomposing bacteria can deplete the water of oxygen, killing fish and other marine life. Once toxic chemicals enter the marine environment, it’s very hard to get them out, since they seep into the sediments, enter the food chain, or simply flow with the currents.” Effect on marine ecology: The impact that the oil spills have on the marine ecology is highly dangerous for its stability. There has been seen that the oil spills affects all components of the marine environment negatively (Bernem C A, Wesnigk J B 2007). For example, if the oil spills reach the shores and coastlines, they cause a lot of damage. There is contamination and erosion of the area surrounding the oil spills which affects the vegetation as well as the fauna of the area. This in the long run through the food chain also affects the human population in the area. The oil spills are able to reach the sea shore and the coast line due to natural elements such as wind, water currents and waves. I have observed that in the areas which have been affected by such oil spills the vegetation quality degrades and the area is usually seen to experience erosion. The pollution level of the area increases which strongly negates the ecological system along the shore. The beach sand and the stones and rocks along the coast are seen to observe the waste oil and this leads to degradation in their ability to nurture normal vegetation. This has also proved to be toxic in many cases, for example in the 1996 when the Sea Empress tanker had lost crude oil along the beach of Pembrokeshire in Wales, the whole coastline was seen to have suffered from negation of the quality of its biomass. Effect on Marine life: It has been my observation that he effective of oil spills on marine life and ecology has been extensively harmful, both in the short run as well as in the long term. The most observant effect is usually seen in the pictures that are run by most newspapers and news channels following such an event of dead birds along the coastline. In my research I have come across various incidents where large oil spills have led to the coastline being washed with bodies of dead fishes and birds after such incidents (Tacio H 2009). The most important reason for this is because the oil spills effect the breathing of the marine life, where the oxygen supply is cut off, and the water is contaminated due to which the marine life suffers in huge numbers (Water Encyclopaedia). But although the short term effects are disturbing enough, it is my belief that the long term implications of such incidents and accidents are a cause of major concern. In the aftermath of the oil spills the most important effects is seen among the mass mortality of the animal life in the area, where there is experienced death by poisoning due to the oils spills. The oil spill causes poisoning of the fauna and flora of the affected region. In my studies of the effects of oil spills I have observed that the long term implications of the oil spills are reason of greater concern and pose a larger problem. The most important threat that is posed by oil spills according to me to the marine life is that it negatively affects the sensitive marine and coastal organic substrate, and affects the food chain of the marine ecology (article base 2009). This is especially problematic as all life depends, fish, mammal, reptiles, birds, others are dependent o this. Apart from the fish life, there also reside birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibian’s life live in or near the coastline. The studies of the affected regions over the years reflect the fact that the oil spills have a highly negative affect on the sea birds (Nijkarnp H, Silva R et al 2008). After the oil spills the sea birds loose their ability to fly due to the fact that their wings get enclosed with oil which does not allow them to fly. In a natural attempt to remove the oil, they try to eat the oil, but it only leads to the poisoning of the species. The climatic cycle of a region is also seen to be affected by oil spills. After the oil spills it is seen that the oil thickens and becomes denser. This leads to its collimation on the water and it becomes more difficult for it to be transported by the waves and the water currents. It has been seen that although a number of efforts have been made to clean the affected areas of oil spills theses have not proved very helpful and the only visible effect has been that they have helped make these effected coastline more attractive. (Sea Shepherd 20099) in the research that I have undertaken shows that all types of oil are harmful to the water ecology which includes refined petroleum products (Carls, Mark G. et al 2001). There have been many scholars who like to point out that crude oil is more adverse as it leads to mass mortality of the wildlife in the affected area, but in terms of long run refined petroleum is more harmful as it causes contamination of the whole food cycle. Its presence in the ecology can lead to the poisoning of wildlife and can interfere with the process of breeding of the fauna. It can even lead to the jamming and blocking of lungs of aquatic mammals and turtles, and severely negates the resistant system of the animals and the wildlife in which the red blood cells (RBC) are affected. In the case of the WA I have seen that due to the massive spills that have been experienced off shore of the West Australian coast is most likely to lead to an increase in the risk that is posed to the fauna of the region which includes whales, dolphins, turtles and sea birds. In the areas that have been affected by oil spills in the region a team of ecologists headed by James Watson have carried out a survey. It has reflected that the oil drilling site which is owned PTTEP, a Thai company. Their report clearly states that “the presence of dying birds and Dead Sea snakes suggest that there is an immediate risk to species utilising the water that has been affected by the oil slick. Some animals are unable to survive due to this oil slick.” (Wilkinson M 2009). Conclusion: Thus, I would like to conclude by saying that the danger that is posed by oil spills is very potent and has to be addressed by the state and the society as it can lead to complete degradation of the ecological system of the marine life and affect humans in the long run along with all other plant and animal life along the food chain (Enzler S M 2009). Thus, there has to be contamination of this and the damage that has already been done has to be repaired. There has to be carried out clearing programs to ensure that the sea and ocean bed is cleared of all pollutants. This can be done through cleaning up the oil and preventing future oil spills though safety measures as promoted by the state and the EPA, which are the Environmental Protection Agencies. This is integral to restore the semblance of balance and sustainability to the marine ecology around the globe, not only in Australia. Reference: Article Base 2009: Effects of oil spills, July 16 2009, accessed on January 2010-01-23 at http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/the-detrimental-effects-of-oil-spills-on-our-environment-1043176.html. Bernem C A, Wesnigk J B 2007: Oil pollution in marine ecosystems, Environmental crisis, pp 101- 139, Pub December 14, 2007. Carls, Mark G. et al 2001:Persistence of Oiling in Mussel Beds after the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill,  Marine Environmental Research 51, no. 2, 2001:167–190. Enzler S M 2009: Environmental Disasters, Water Treatment Solutions; Oil Spill in WA, October 2009. International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited: Effects of oil spills, accessed on January 2010-01-23 at http://www.itopf.com/marine-spills/effects/. Kaushik P 2009: Oil Spills and environmental effects, pub Niki Feras, March 26, 2009, Bright Hubs.  NOAA 2008: Introduction to Environmental Sensitivity Index maps. NOAA Technical Manual, Seattle: Hazardous Response and Assessment Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 56p. Nijkarnp H, Silva R et al 2008: Combating the deadly effects of oil on marine life, Sea Alarm Foundation, WME, Vol 3, Issue 2, September 2008. Sea Shepherd 2009: Death toll rises at oil spill, October 30, 2009, accessed on January 2010-01-23 at http://www.seashepherd.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=5495. Tacio H 2009: Oceans in crisis due to global warming, over fishing and pollution, July 19, 2009, Gaia Discovery. Water Encyclopaedia: Oil Spills; Impact on the Ocean, accessed on January 2010-01-23 at http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Oc-Po/Oil-Spills-Impact-on-the-Ocean.html. Wilkinson M 2009: Toll rises as sea life feed at oil spill, The Sydney Morning Herald, October 31, 2009. Read More