Oil Spill’s Effect on Marine Life

Anna Lim ’27

Daphne Wong ’26

When oil spills occur in oceans due to human errors, their first and most direct victims are the inhabitants of the ecosystem in which it took place. 

Oil spills affect the health of wildlife in three primary ways: ingestion, absorption, and inhalation. Aquatic animals who consume aquatic prey could be exposed to oil through ingestion. This causes digestive problems, bleeding, irritations, and more complications. Causing blockages that prevent animals from consuming or digesting foods, oil can reduce the health and fitness of an animal and "cause changes in reproduction" (US, 2023). For instance, herbivores, such as certain species of sea turtles, can accidentally consume plants coated with oil. Yet, not consuming oil directly does not mean an animal is safe from the effects of oil spills near its ecosystem. Wildlife could be affected by oil through absorption. After animals get exposed to oil, it burns, irritates, or causes infections in the skin. This eventually leads to "lower hatching rates and developmental impairments" (Ober, 2019). Animals also commonly experience inhalation of oils. After an oil spill occurs, parts of the oil lying on the ocean's surface will evaporate. This causes wildlife that breathe the air above the water, specifically dolphins, whales, and sea turtles, to be susceptible to the harmful materials in evaporated oil. 

Another impact oil spills can have on animals is their migrating routes and foraging locations. Oil spills can result in animals changing hunting locations. It can destroy the population of a particular food source, which causes animals "to make longer trips to find food in unfamiliar areas." (Ober, 2019). This increased movement for food foraging prompts the animals to increase their appetite and energy requirements, making it more difficult for them to consume enough food. A decrease in the diversity of food can disrupt life cycles in marine life. The immediate change in the number of individuals from different life cycles can cause a ripple effect in every direction of the food chain. Oil spills can significantly impact marine animals since they can change their health or migration routes under the sea.   

  In conclusion, it is crucial to address the direct impacts of oil spills on marine wildlife in order to comprehend the importance of oil spill prevention.

References 

Ober, H. K. (n.d.). EFFECTS OF OIL SPILLS ON MARINE AND COASTAL WILDLIFE. University of Florida.

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW330  

US. (2023). How does oil impact marine life? Noaa.gov. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/oilimpacts.html