About 

• Oil spills refer to the accidental or intentional release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbons into the environment.
• These spills can have detrimental effects on ecosystems, wildlife, and human communities.
• Oil spills can occur through various means
  • Accidents: Accidental spills can happen during the extraction, transportation, and refining of oil. For example, pipeline ruptures, tanker accidents, or drilling mishaps can lead to oil being released into the environment.
  • Leakage: Aging infrastructure, corrosion, or technical failures in oil pipelines and storage facilities can result in leaks, leading to oil spills.
  • Shipwrecks: Maritime accidents, such as collisions, groundings, or sinking of oil tankers, can cause significant oil spills in marine environments.

Impacts of oil spills

• Oil is toxic to many marine organisms. Fish, shellfish, and other aquatic organisms may suffer direct mortality when exposed to oil.
• Birds that come into contact with oil can experience feather contamination, making it difficult for them to fly. 
• Oil spills can contaminate coastal habitats, including marshes, mangroves, and estuaries.
• Oil spills can have cascading effects on plankton and small organisms, disrupting the base of the marine food chain.

Measures to mitigate oil spills

• Booms and barriers are physical structures deployed on the water’s surface to contain and control the spread of spilled oil. They act as barriers, preventing the oil from spreading further and protecting sensitive areas such as shorelines, marshes, and estuaries.
• Skimmers are devices used to remove oil from the water’s surface. They work by physically separating the oil from the water, allowing for the recovery of the spilled oil.
• Oilzapper technology is an eco-friendly technology for the remediation of oil spills.It makes use of five bacterial strains for the treatment of oil spills.
• Advanced Technologies can be used for oil drilling, transportation, and storage to minimize the risk of spills. This includes the use of double-hulled tankers, blowout preventers, and safety equipment.

Why in News?

• The Indian Coast Guard recently hosted an Oil spill disaster contingency plan meeting for promoting enhanced cooperation amongst different stakeholders for better preparedness in response to oil spill contingencies.