Marine oil and chemical-spill response: UK guidelines launched
21 May 2012
A set of new
guidelines to strengthen the response to oil and chemical
spills at sea has been published today.
The post-incident monitoring guidelines are a key output from
the PREMIAM project
(Pollution Response in Emergencies: Marine Impact Assessment and
Monitoring) which was initiated in 2009.
A comprehensive document, the guidelines provide the principles
upon which effective post-spill monitoring and impact assessment in
UK waters will be based and is supported by 19 UK government
partners. The guidelines cover a wide range of issues
including:
- planning surveys
- sampling practices (including handling and storage)
- chemical analysis
- ecotoxicology
- ecological assessment.
Chemical and oil spills in the marine environment remain a
significant threat. While large spill incidents remain relatively
rare, events such as the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico
and, more recently, the grounded container ship Rena in
New Zealand show the importance of effective response.
Rapid response, improved preparedness and effective
post-incident monitoring and assessment are all key parts of an
effective response and these guidelines and other outputs from the
project will help to deliver that for the UK.
Cefas' Mark Kirby, the PREMIAM project co-ordinator, says: "The
publication of the guidelines marks an important step in our
ability to mount effective and co-ordinated post-spill monitoring
programmes."
The UK has been no stranger to significant marine incidents,
with large spills from the Sea Empress, Braer and
MSC Napoli all requiring major post-spill monitoring
operations.
Kirby continues: "The size and importance of the offshore oil
and gas and shipping industries in the UK means that there is a
need for continued vigilance and improvement of post-spill response
and monitoring activities.
"The guidelines published today came about because of excellent
co-operation among a wide range of UK government departments and
agencies, coupled with very positive feedback from both industry
and conservation bodies during an extensive consultation period.
Such combined effort means that the guidelines provide a credible
and widely supported process for any UK response in future."
The PREMIAM project is developing processes whereby expertise,
equipment and facilities necessary for effective monitoring of oil
and/or chemical spills are identified and engaged. The project also
provides a mechanism through which the UK's post-spill monitoring
programme is co-ordinated and managed.
Notes to editors
- PREMIAM is an ongoing project, funded by Defra (the UK's
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), with a
long-term legacy. It is co-ordinated by emergency-response and
impact-assessment experts from Cefas (Centre for Environment,
Fisheries & Aquaculture Science). For more about Cefas'
expertise, visit www.cefas.defra.gov.uk/.
- The project has wide support from all UK government departments
and agencies involved in post-spill issues. There are 19 UK PREMIAM
partners in all, and they engage the scientific and emergency
response community in delivering the project's aims.
- To download the PREMIAM guidelines, visit http://cefas.defra.gov.uk/premiam/guidelines.aspx.
- For more information about the PREMIAM project, contact premiam@cefas.co.uk or mark.kirby@cefas.co.uk.