Hobbies And Interests
Contain the Spill
The first line of defense in an oil spill is to contain the spill itself. Controlling the spread of the oil, and physically removing as much as possible right away, helps to reduce the number of species that will be potentially affected. Acting quickly to remove oil-covered debris, contaminated fish and wildlife carcasses is necessary to better provide aid to the remaining wildlife. Microbes, or beneficial bacteria, are often introduced into spill sites to eat away the oil. These microbes biodegrade oil naturally and are one effective way to help with cleanup efforts, but they work slowly to accomplish their task.
Keep Animals Away
Preventing healthy animals from coming into contaminated areas is a necessary second step. This is usually done by using a variety of visual and audible deterrents, through a technique called "hazing." Visual devices include things like shiny reflectors, balloons, kites, smoke, or scarecrows of model predators. Methods that employ sound include propane cannons, alarms, predator recordings, model wildlife distress calls and other such noisemakers. Herding animals with aircraft, helicopters and boats is another method that is used.
Rescue Oil-Contaminated Animals
Animals that have come into contact with oil must be treated quickly to have the best possible outcome. Even oiled and ailing animals will avoid capture and be difficult to catch. Of those captured, only a portion will survive the treatment process. Some will do well enough to be later released back into their natural habitats, while others may never make a full recovery and will continue to be cared for by zoos or aquariums. The cleaning process includes flushing oils from animals' eyes and intestines, repeatedly washing their exterior to remove oil, administering a stomach-coating medication to prevent further ingestion of oil, as well as examining for broken bones and other injuries or ailments. Warming the animals is often necessary, as birds' and mammals' insulating layers are unable to regulate body temperature effectively because of oil contamination.
Legislation and Changes
Many regulations have been initiated to help prevent further oil spills. For example, in 1990 the United States Congress passed the Ocean Pollution Act. This act includes regulations such as stating that tankers must have written emergency response plans; that all U.S. ships are to have double hulls by 2015; that tankers and boats responsible for spills must pat $1,200 in liability for every ton spilled; that the government must provide a spill fund to help pay for cleanup efforts; and that the Coast Guard must know the whereabouts of oil tankers.