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Wildlife and oil in the Antarctic: a recipe for cold disaster

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2012

Valeria Ruoppolo ,
Eric J. Woehler ,
Kerri Morgan  and
Curtiss J. Clumpner
Valeria Ruoppolo
Affiliation:
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), 290 Summer Street, MA 02675, Yarmouth Port, USA and Aiuká, Consultoria em Soluções Ambientais, Av. Benedito F. Silva 472, São Paulo, SP, 04786–000, Brazil ([email protected])
Eric J. Woehler
Affiliation:
School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 05, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
Kerri Morgan
Affiliation:
New Zealand Wildlife Health Centre, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Wildlife Health Centre, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
Curtiss J. Clumpner
Affiliation:
International Bird Rescue, 1526 Franklin Avenue, Astoria, Oregon 97103, USA
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Abstract

The increasing rate of incidents involving vessels in the Southern Ocean (including vessels sinking) has highlighted the potential for substantial fuel spills into the Antarctic environment. An increasing number of tourist and fishing vessels, often without ice strengthened hulls, are penetrating farther into, and staying longer in, Antarctic waters, with a focus for destinations of wildlife concentrations. Based on a survey of national operators in the Antarctic, there is little preparation for an oil spill event that involves Antarctic wildlife. This is a recipe for a catastrophic spill event, with the potential for high numbers of oiled wildlife in a remote part of the world where there are major logistical constraints on the provision of equipment and skilled response personnel. Here we chronicle shipping incidents that have led to oil spills in the Southern Ocean, the current legislation and contingency plans currently in place by national Antarctic operators, and examine their preparedness and expertise for an oiled wildlife event response. It is clear that national, fishing and tourism operators are manifestly unprepared for an oiled wildlife event in the Southern Ocean. We identify five critical constraints to any response and provide recommendations that address these constraints.

Type
Research Article
Information
Polar Record , Volume 49 , Issue 2 , April 2013 , pp. 97 - 109
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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