To fully understand their devastating consequences, here are the 15 Impacts of Oil Spills in Oceans that you need to know. The damages and the deaths that they can cause are catastrophic.
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1. Kill Marine Creatures
Oil spills are deadly for marine creatures in the oceans. They can cause hypothermia in mammals with fur such as the sea otters or seals. The oil can also damage the organs of the fish, resulting in instant death. The death of marine creatures is always a loss as that will affect the whole food chain. Some creatures could already be endangered ones.
2. Drown Birds
Sea birds like the pelicans can also become the victim of oil spills. As they search for food in the contaminated ocean water, they are drenching themselves in oil. That will add more weight which will prevent them from flying. Instead, they drown and die.
See also: Types of Ocean Birds
3. Disrupt Migratory Patterns
Oil spills may affect some areas where they are crucial for the migration of birds. Those birds won’t be able to go to the places they usually do because of the disaster. This will cause a disruption in their migratory patterns. The birds will find it difficult to find resting places or to find food.
Also see: Interesting Facts of Ocean Pollution
4. Damage Marine Plants
Marine plants are very susceptible with their environment. Sudden changes will cause them to die. Oil spills in the oceans will damage plants such as seaweeds, kelp or seagrass. They can become coated with the oil. Not only will that cause a decline in their health, marine creatures in the ocean water will suffer too.
5. Contaminate Beaches
Beaches are impacted by oil spills as well. The sand and the gravel in the beaches will come into contact with the toxic oil. Afterwards, they become heavily polluted and dirty. The oil damages the ecosystem around the beaches. Also, sediments that are considered too dirty might have to be replaced with cleaner ones.
See more: Ways the Ocean Affects the Land
6. Destroy Marine Habitats
The oil spills in the ocean will have the chance of destroying important marine habitats. For instance, the salt marsh and mangrove trees. Both of those habitats provide unique marine environment for various marine lives. Marine plants will decrease and marine creatures will lose their homes.
Read also: Threats to Marine Habitats
7. Damage Breeding Grounds
Breeding grounds for marine lives are important. They enable the marine population to go on. However, oil spills can damage those grounds. Either offshore or under the water. Sea turtle’s eggs are vulnerable to this kind of disaster. The eggs won’t be able to develop and hatch if they come into contact with the oil. Even if the eggs hatch, the newly born turtles won’t make it out of the oil polluted beach.
8. Disrupt Recreational Activities
It won’t be safe for anyone to visit beaches if they become heavily polluted with oil. That means no more swimming in the ocean, surfing and snorkelling. Those of you who love to frequent the ocean will definitely be devastated. This is one of the most visible impacts of oil spills in the ocean for humans.
See more: Ways Oceans Affect Your Life
9. Cease Commercial Fisheries
Commercial fisheries can completely cease when an oil spill happens. It may take a while until it can operate again. Unfortunately, some commercial fisheries can never recover. The damage can turn into a permanent one. This will cause many people to lose their jobs. Local fishermen will also lose their source of income.
10. Decline in Fish Stocks
Fish stocks can significantly affect the economy and the wellbeing of the people around the world. With the oil spills in the ocean, there will be a decline in the number of the fish that can be distributed. This will mean that people will have less access to consume their seafood.
Read also: Types of Ocean Fish to Eat
11. Limit Tourism
Tourism activities will be negatively impacted by oil spills. There will only be limited things that people can do. There may even be a shortage of seafood supply or concerns about their safety. Restaurants may experience some loss due to the declining tourists. Hotels will also be going through the same thing.
12. Spread Oil Spills to Other Areas
The winds and the currents in the oceans can make the oil spill disaster become even worse. They contribute to the spread of oil to other parts of the oceans. This will increase the amount of areas affected by the oil. Thus, adding the amount of damage in the oceans.
Read also: Effects of Wind on Ocean Currents
13. Lower Air Quality
Oil contains many chemicals that will lower the air quality. The chemicals evaporate into the air and disperse. They can affect people’s health in negative ways. Direct exposure may cause eye irritation, dizziness and sore throats. Breathing the toxic air may even cause long term health problems. There have been cases where people develop cancer.
14. Reduce Amount of Oxygen in Water
Dissolved oxygen in the ocean water is critical for the survival of marine creatures. But oil spill can reduce the availability of that oxygen. As more and more oil dissolves in the water, the oxygen is replaced. This will endanger many lives within the ocean ecosystem.
See also: Importance of Oxygen in the Ocean
15. Ignite Fire
Oil spills in the oceans can actually ignite fire. Many lives are lost once it happens and the number could increase during the rescue process. The fire caused by the oil is a hazard for the air. The smoke will pollute the air which will in turn be inhaled by people. It can also take a while to put out the fire and clean up the oil. In fact, there may even be the chances of the fire spreading to other parts of the ocean.
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It’s always a serious case when oil spills into the ocean. The road to recovery will be long and the effects might be felt years after it happened.
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