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IPIECA-International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association Publicacións-(Formato PDF):

These guidelines aim to summarize short and long-term biological effects of oil pollution and are intended to help anyone facing questions about damage assessment, prediction of possible long-term effects, or clean-up. The emphasis is on marine ecosystems, but some reference is made to other environments.

While the environmental priority for all tanker operations is the prevention of oil spills, it is recognized that marine spills are a factor for which management must plan. This report describes the elements of the contingency planning process and stresses the importance of cooperative activity between industry and government.

This edition updates the 1991 report in the light of lessons learnt from oil spills through the 1990s. It also takes into account the effect of increasing ratification, amongst maritime nations, of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation 1990 (the OPRC Convention).

This report summarizes and interprets the findings of a number of published scientific papers concerning effects of oils on corals, and provides background information on the structure and ecology of coral reefs. It also discusses clean-up operations and their implications in the light of the latest evidence from case histories and field experiments

Information is provided in this report on the ecology and human use of mangroves, and on the fate and effects of oil. Oil spill response plans to address habitat protection options are discussed, along with clean-up methods, with reference to case history experience and results from field experiments.

This report aims to provide a balanced view about when it is productive to use dispersants and when it is not, with particular reference to environmental concerns. It uses ‘real life’ information from spills and from field experiments and considers the dispersant option, in relation to contingency planning.

Saltmarshes are among the ‘most vulnerable’ category of habitats. This report considers factors affecting the fate and effects of oil on saltmarshes, and provides guidelines on clean-up options. It also includes information on the ecology and uses of saltmarshes.

This report describes the factors that make some rocky shores more sensitive to oil spills than others and considers the most appropriate methods of clean-up. Case histories are used to illustrate the effects of spills and spill clean-up, as well as typical recovery rates.

Fisheries and aquaculture may be affected following an oil spill. The report describes the direct effects on the species, and indirect effects through impacts on their habitats. The impact on fishing gear and aquaculture facilities is also considered and information is included on basic ecology of the species concerned, and on fishing and aquaculture methods. Response to spills is discussed and reference is made to case history examples

This report describes the main types of sedimentary shores, their vulnerability to oil spill damage, clean-up after an incident, and their capacity to recover.

Once oil has been spilled, urgent decisions need to be made about the options available for clean-up.The advantages and disadvantages of different responses need to be weighed up and compared both with each other and with those of natural clean-up. This process is sometimes known as ‘net environmental benefit analysis’. This publication outlines the evaluation process and provides examples of clean-up options both onshore and offshore.

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