Oil Spill Impact on Ocean

706 million gallons of waste oil is estimated to enter ocean every year. When oil is spilled in the ocean, it spreads quickly on the surface of the ocean and a small percentage of it gets dissolved in the water. Its speed depends on its density and composition, and it is influenced by waves, water current and wind force.A single gallon of oil can stain up to a couple of acres in size. Some oil that contains volatile organic compounds, however, evaporates 20 to 40 percent of its mass and become denser, appearing as a thick mouse within the water.

Damage to Fisheries, Wildlife and Recreation

Oil spill is very harmful to the ocean, as well as coastal fishing and fisheries. It has cause massive oceanic organism mortality and contamination that also implies serious ecological consequences. Oil waste poisons the marine and coastal organic substrate, corrupting the ocean food chain which impacts the fish reproduction as well as commercial fishing enterprises.

There is also other implication on wildlife other than fish, such as mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds that live in or near the ocean. This group of animals that consume oceanic organisms can be severely poisoned or killed. When the organism is severely poisoned, the toxin would be carried on to the next food chain, which also disturbs the food chain systematically.

When oil comes into contact with these organisms, it causes something called hypothermia. It breaks down the insulation capacity of feather, as well as their flying ability. Similarly, it also can destroy insulating furs and damages animal immune systems. It can further interfere breeding and it can result thinner bird and turtle eggs and damage fish larvae, causing biological deformities.

Not only the oil contaminates the surface of the shores and coasts, it also lurk beneath the beaches and seabed, severely damaging marine organisms that burrow such as crabs and other undersea creatures. These burrows would be poisoned and the toxin would again be carried on to the upper food chain.

Blibliography

Embach, Carolyn. "Oil Spills: Impact on the Ocean - Sea, Effects, Temperature, Percentage, Important, Largest, Types, Source, Marine, Oxygen, Human." Water: Science and Issues. Web. 07 Dec. 2010. .