Accidental spills at sea--risk, impact, mitigation and the need for co-ordinated post-incident monitoring.
A fully integrated and effective response to an oil or chemical spill at sea must include a well planned and executed post-incident assessment of environmental contamination and damage. While salvage, rescue and clean-up operations are generally well considered, including reviews and exercises, the expertise, resources, networks and logistical planning required to achieve prompt and effective post-spill impact assessment and monitoring are not generally well established. The arrangement and co-ordination of post-incident monitoring and impact assessment need to consider sampling design, biological effects, chemical analysis and collection/interpretation of expert local knowledge. This paper discusses the risks, impacts and mitigation options associated with accidental spills and considers the importance of pre-considered impact assessment and monitoring programmes in the wider response cycle. The PREMIAM (Pollution Response in Emergencies: Marine Impact Assessment and Monitoring; www.premiam.org) project is considered as an example of an improved approach to the planning, co-ordination and conduct of post-incident monitoring.
Kirby
Mark F
MF
The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK. mark.kirby@cefas.co.uk <mark.kirby@cefas.co.uk>
Law
Robin J
RJ
D000059:Accidents; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods*; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010578:Petroleum / Q000633:toxicity; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012767:Ships; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
D010578:Petroleum; D014873:Water Pollutants