Oil spill contingency plans vital to contain damage to wildlife

THE National Oil Spill Contingency Plan and its subsidiary, the national Oiled Wildlife Response Contingency Plan, being developed, are key instruments that will guide a co-ordinated response to an oiling incident.

This was the advice from CapeNature, which said spills at sea are a threat to the South African oceans and coastline because the oil gets washed out along the shore.

“The hazards for wildlife include toxicity during exposure or ingestion, injuries such as smothering and deterioration of thermal insulation, and damage to reproductive systems and behaviours.

“Seabirds, particularly those that cannot fly, such as the endangered African penguin, are at risk. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of African penguins oiled. Since 1990, 30 000 were oiled in two spills. Animals try to clean oil off their bodies, which results in them ingesting it,” CapeNature said.