Will the application of the chemical dispersant to the spilled oil minimise the overall environmental impact of the oil spill?
Except for the impact on marine birds and mammals, the most damaging effect of oil spills is when the oil strands on shorelines or enters restricted shallow waters like estuaries. Oil Spill Dispersants are a prime and vital response tool to stop oil coming ashore or from entering sensitive foreshore environments especially when weather and sea conditions do not allow the use of oil containment and recovery equipment. Oil Spill Dispersants are usually not applied to oil spills in “near shore areas” for example: where sea grass beds, oyster beds, mariculture or coral reefs are present. However, dispersant use may be authorised by the On Scene Coordinator in consultation with the Environmental and Scientific Coordinator in these circumstances when there is a possibility of an impact of oil on a more sensitive foreshore habitat, or wildlife impacts are possible. For example, when an approaching oil slick may impact sensitive fringing mangroves, or endangered species such as migratory birds
