Oil spill threatens Caithness coastline
03/10/2008 23:17:17
Oiled red throated diver. Credit RSPB.
Update.
Since the beginning of last week, over 200 oiled birds have been found with varying degrees of severity. There have been several confirmed fatalities and a number of birds are housed in the SSPCA's animal rescue centres undergoing rehabilitation, we expect that these number will increase over the next few days as birds suffer from the effects of oiling.
Third spill this year on same coastline October 2008. An oil spill affecting most of the north Caithness coastline has impacted scores of seabirds and raised the urgent need for better regulations for the marine environment.
Special Protection Areas
It is by far the worst of three such oil spills in these waters since May this year, affecting the coast from Thurso to Duncansby Head. The area includes two major Special Protection Areas on the north and east Caithness cliffs which are the nesting ground for more than 150,000 pairs of seabirds, including guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, puffins, black guillemots and shags.
RSPB Scotland is calling on the Scottish and UK governments to commit to better enforcement of environmental regulations governing the marine environment in a bid to prevent such potentially devastating spills that can wreak havoc on wildlife and coastal industries.
Oiled Eider duck on Caithness coast. Credit to Martyn Elwell.
Upwards of 50 oiled birds have so far been recovered and taken to vets by the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, including black and common guillemots, eider ducks, common and herring gulls, razorbills and a skein of geese.
Tank flushing
The suspicion is that an unspecified ship washed out its tanks off the shore, with the contents then blown on to the coast by the recent north westerly winds. Samples of the spill have been taken for testing by SEPA, and according to initial reports the oil is not characteristic of the grade from the local Talisman Beatrice field.
With escalating pressure on the Pentland Firth for locating marine renewables in addition to the present oil interest, boat traffic will inevitably rise in coming years and this will increase the likelihood of further spills.
Marine Bills
Stuart Housden, director of RSPB Scotland said: "This is the third oil spill in just six months and it demonstrates the urgent need for better measures to reduce the chance and impact of such incidents. There is no cure for oil spills - prevention is the best defence we have. But this must be achieved by ensuring all activities at sea are co-ordinated within a framework for the sustainable management of the marine environment, and should be secured by the UK and Scottish Marine Bills with the environment at their hearts. Regulations must also be rigorously enforced by international, UK and Scottish authorities if this is to work.
He added: "Those who permit oil spills should be brought to account. This would then encourage others to take more responsibility for their actions and guard against the potentially catastrophic consequences of spills that jeopardise our internationally important populations of seabirds and coastal habitats."
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