Publication Abstract

The effects of oil and chemical spillages at sea

R.J. Law and J.A. Campbell

One of the responsibiities of the CEFAS Burnham Laboratory is the provision of scientific support and advice to headquarters staff of the Ministy of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) in the event of spillages of oil and chemicals at sea around England and Wales. In an average year there may be 10-12 incidents which require some action to be taken, and occasionally a major oil spill may trigger monitoring studies and local controls on fishing activity. The scope of such incidents and their consequences are discussed by reference to two particular incidents: the loss of a container of the pesticide lindane from MV Perzntis in the English Channel in 1989, and the grounding of the oil tanker Sea Empress in Wales in 1996 and the consequent oilspill. The latter of these incidemnts is also compared with the loss of the oil tanker Braer in Shetland in 1993.

Reference:

R.J. Law and J.A. Campbell, 1998. The effects of oil and chemical spillages at sea. International Ocean Systems Design, 2: 5