title: An evaluation of oil spill responses for offshore oil production projects in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada: Implications for seabird conservation.
abstract: Seabirds are vulnerable to oil pollution, particularly in cold-water regions. We investigated the response of small spills (<7.95m(3)) at offshore production platforms in Newfoundland, a region recognized for seabird diversity and abundance. In three environmental assessments for oil production operations Environment Canada requested monitoring and mitigation of small spills potentially impacting seabird populations; suggestions supported by two independent reviews. An industry spill response plan states that operators would collect systematic observations on spills and deploy countermeasures where possible. Operators' spill reports were obtained under an Access to Information request. There were 220 daytime spills with sheens (out of 381 spills; 1997-2010). Of these, six reported time to oil dispersion and eleven the presence or absence of seabirds. Industry self-reporting has not permitted an evaluation of the impact of chronic oil spills on seabirds. We recommend that independent observers be placed on platforms to systematically collect data on spills and seabirds.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, Ontario, M3J1P3, Canada. Electronic address: gsfraser@yorku.ca.
authors.forename: Gail S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, Ontario, M3J1P3, Canada.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Racine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000592:standards*; D009523:Newfoundland and Labrador; D059392:Petroleum Pollution
keywords: C-NLOPB; Chronic oil pollution; Independent observers; Marine birds; Post-spill monitoring