Coastal Spills

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Coastal Oil Spills benefit from the use of peat absorbents

Oil Spills on water are devastating to the environment

July 2001 --

This experience demonstrates the amazing speed and ecological benefits of using peat absorbents for oil spill clean up. This product offers a fast and environmentally friendly method for protecting the eco-system, including plant and wildlife during oil spill disasters. With this product, the project is cleaned up in record time, not YEARS! In the case of this project, within one month the beaches were clean - and peat made the difference in the death toll of the local wildlife!

For information on using peat for oil spill clean up, send us an email at: info@polsorb.com

Avian Demography Unit 
Department of Statistical Sciences
University of Cape Town

Initial effects of the Treasure oil spill on seabirds off Western South Africa

INTRODUCTION

In the early morning of 23 June 2000, the bulk ore carrier MV Treasure sank off western South Africa between Dassen and Robben islands, both Important Bird Areas. Treasure was carrying about 1344 t of heavy fuel oil, 56 t of marine diesel and 64 t of lube oil, of which all but 205 t of heavy fuel oil spilt into the surrounding water. On 24 June oiled African Penguins started to come ashore at Dassen and Robben islands. Oil moved towards Robben Island, where booms were attached to the end of the breakwater at Murrays Bay Harbour in an attempt to keep oil from reaching that portion of the island's coastline used by most penguins for accessing the breeding area. The booms parted on the night of 24 June, and oil came ashore between the breakwater and the northern point of the island. This meant that almost all penguins arriving at or leaving the island would become oiled. Additionally, oil covered large portions of the foraging grounds of penguins at Robben Island. 

A few days later, the oil moved north towards Dassen Island, which it reached on 28 June. Large quantities of oil came ashore at Whale Bay, the southern portion of Area C and Ichaboe Point, and lesser quantities in Lime Kiln Bay, portions of Waterloo Bay, the northern portions of Area G and portions of Boom Point. Prevailing currents continued to move the oil north, leading to concern that seabird colonies at islands farther north, including Vondeling Island and islands in West Coast National Park, would also be impacted. By 1 July, no oil was observed north of Dassen Island, but large slicks remained between Dassen and Robben islands and south of Robben Island and continued to threaten penguins until 16 July. 

In addition to African Penguin, other endangered seabirds were at risk from the Treasure spill.  

On 20 June 1994, the Apollo Sea sank between Dassen and Robben islands. Oil came ashore on Dassen Island at West Bay and House Bay, and later also on Robben Island. This resulted in about 10000 penguins being oiled, of which 4718 were successfully cleaned by Southern African National Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) and later returned to the wild. The other 5000 birds died, many during transportation from the islands to SANCCOB's rescue stations or in the first few days after arriving at the stations. 

Before the sinking of Treasure, the Apollo Sea incident was the largest oiling event for seabirds in southern Africa. Soon after Treasure sank, it became apparent that a much larger number of birds was at risk of becoming oiled, and that unless steps were take to minimize this number, it may prove beyond the capacity of SANCCOB to care for. 

This paper discusses steps that were taken to minimize the numbers of birds that became oiled and remedial measures that were implemented for those that were oiled. It also assesses the initial impact of the Treasure oil spill on the seabirds off western South Africa. It is not yet possible to report the final impact of the spill because many seabirds are still at the rescue centers. Additionally, it will be several years before follow-up studies are able to assess the long-term impact of the spill on the seabird colonies. 

EXCERPTS FROM THIS ARTICLE:

At Robben Island, the strategy involved two components. Firstly, attempts were made to catch all penguins congregating rocks contaminated with oil were initially piled together and dusted with an absorbent peat-based dust that rendered them dry. They were later returned to the beach area. The rocky coastline and intertidal region were cleaned by rubbing fine absorbent material into the oil on the rocks and brushing it off with hard bristle brushes. Kelp contaminated with oil was removed and buried on the island. A survey showed the Robben Island coastline to be mostly clean of oil on 5 July. 

At Dassen Island, the initial effort was directed at collecting oiled penguins, but once oil approached the island attempts were.

In spite of oiling of the intertidal feeding areas of African Black Oystercatchers, only one dead oystercatcher was found at absorbent peat used to clean oil off the shores was non-toxic to intertidal invertebrates, and probably did little additional damage to potential food for oystercatchers. The impact of the spill on African Black Oystercatchers was probably minimal. 

As in the Apollo Sea oil spill, great damage to the penguins resulted from oil from Treasure beaching at Dassen and Robben the use of peat to remove oil from coastlines reduced numbers of birds becoming oiled.
 
For the complete study article, please visit the University of Cape Town's website at:

http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/stats/adu/oilspill/oilspill.htm