Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996
Sea Empress oil spill

You have probably heard of the disastrous oil spill off the coast of south-west Wales. According to current estimates, over 100,000 tons of North Sea crude oil has entered the marine environment in one of the most important areas for marine wildlife in the region. The area supports internationally important numbers of seabirds as well as grey seals, harbour porpoise, common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. Two of only three statutory Marine Nature Reserves in Britain have been contaminated. Along many miles of our rocky, cliff bound coastline - the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park - coves and beaches are coated in oil and substantial slicks remain in each of the many gullies sheltered from wind and tidal currents. Inter-tidal invertebrates have been seen hanging from their shells or burrows or climbing up the rocks away from the sea. Much of the oil remains offshore and cleaned beaches become re-oiled with each tide. The main vertebrate casualties have been common scoter and guillemots. Many other bird species have been badly affected, including gulls, oystercatchers and red-throated divers. Large quantities of dispersant have been sprayed on the oil from the air and much oil has been dispersed into the water column where it may enter the food chain with potential implications for all species, including marine mammals.

There are relatively few grey seals in the area at this time, about 60 are assembled at a moulting haul-out on Skomer Island, with a similar number on Lundy Island. A few are however dispersed around the coast, and we have observed individual seals surfacing in heavy oil slicks and other seals from which a sheen of oil spread when they surfaced, indicating their pelage was oiled. As the oil spread towards Skomer I sailed through affected areas on Earthkind s Ocean Defender: porpoise were observed in the tide-race off Skomer Head. Porpoise have subsequently been reported surfacing in sheen - thin surface layer of oil - in Ramsey Sound. Oil sheen has now spread to Strumble Head, another important area for porpoise. We anticipate any potential impacts on marine mammals will be subtle and less immediate.

The Dyfed Wildlife Trust recently completed a four year study of grey seals in the area under contract to the Countryside Council for Wales, including full counts of pup production at more than 200 breeding sites through three consecutive seasons, and photo-ID, cataloguing more than 25% of breeding females. Cetaceans were also recorded during the course of the seal census. Recent data is therefore available on which to base a marine mammal monitoring programme and preparations are under way to monitor impacts on seals and cetaceans, funding permitting. We are presenting posters on the West Wales Grey Seal Census and Cetaceans recorded by the WWGSC at the annual meeting of the European Cetacean Society in Lisbon (11-13 March) and will bring along photos and an update on the oil spill to the conference.

Mick Baines
Dyfed Wildlife Trust
7, Market Street
Haverfordwest Dyfed, SA61 1NF
UK
E-mail: 100255.3275@compuserve.com


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