According to statistics, from 1973 to 2006, there were 2,635 oil spills from ships of various sizes in China's coastal areas, including 69 oil spills from large ships, with an oil spill of more than 50 tons and a total oil spill of 37,077 tons, twice a year on average, each time The average oil spill in pollution accidents is 537 tons. When oil spills occur, emergency response to marine oil spills is required. So what are the dangers of not doing marine oil spill emergency response?

(1) The hazards of oil spills to birds

If the marine oil spill emergency treatment is not done, it will be more harmful to birds, especially diving birds. These birds feed on marine plankton and fish. When they come into contact with the oil film, their feathers absorb the oil and lose their ability to waterproof and keep warm. On the other hand, unable to find food, they groom their feathers with their mouths, swallow oil spills, cause visceral damage, and later die of starvation, cold and poisoning. When an oil spill occurs, it is very important to rescue the birds from the perspective of protecting the natural ecology.

(2) The impact of oil spills on marine plankton

Plankton are relatively fragile primary marine organisms. On the one hand, they are particularly sensitive to the toxicity of oil, and even if the concentration of oil spills is very low, they will be polluted; It is impossible to avoid polluted areas like marine animals. In addition, if the marine oil spill emergency treatment is not done, the shading effect of the marine oil film on the sun will affect the photosynthesis of phytoplankton, causing it to rot and deteriorate. Hydrocarbons from degraded phytoplankton and algae entering cells will jeopardize the survival of plankton-eating marine life. Once plankton is contaminated, other marine life will also be threatened by the contamination of captured food. If an oil spill dispersant is sprayed on the oil spill area and the waters have poor exchange capacity, the dispersed oil will pose a greater hazard to marine life.

(3) Harmful effects of oil spills on fisheries

Adult fish have very sensitive organs, so once they smell oil, they can quickly drift away from oily waters. Juvenile fish living in shallow seas are more vulnerable to oil spill pollution if they do not do marine oil spill emergency treatment. When highly toxic oils enter Repulse Bay, whether due to natural causes or the use of dispersants, it can cause various hazards to juvenile fish in the waters. The long-term effects of oil on adult fish are primarily the bait for the fish.

(4) Harm of oil spill to aquaculture

Fish in fish farm cages will not escape and will not be eaten after being contaminated by oil spills. The same is true for inshore farmed scallops and kelp. In addition, the cages used for breeding are difficult to clean after being contaminated with oil, and only replacement can completely eliminate the contamination, which is very expensive.