What are the Effects of Major Oil Spills in the Ocean?

Introduction 

The marine environment is usually characterized by a diverse and dynamic network of species and habitats interlinked through complex ecological and physical process that facilitate their interaction with humans at various levels. As soon as spillage of oil occurs in a sea, it is subjected to several natural processes that progressively and quickly change its form before spreading into several other components of the environment (Chang et al ., 2014). Major oil spills in oceans and seas are associated with several devastating effects and the way in which they are communicated through the media as well as the oil company responsible really matters. 

Effects of Major Oil Spills in the Ocean 

Generally, significant spills in oceans often present the potential for destruction and enormous harm to the marine environment and life. Some of the effects associated with smothering and toxic oil from major spillage include mass contamination and mortality marine life, and extreme long-term effects on ecological status. Oil waste has the potential to contaminate the organic substrate at the coast as well as sensitive marine (Ayers et al ., 2015). These effects could further lead to an interruption of the food chain that supports the feeding and survival of different sea creatures including fish. Thus, oil spills in oceans make it difficult or impossible for reproduction of in sea creatures to happen. The spread of spilled oil may be experienced in different forms across several habitats. On rare occasions, persistent large amounts of oil may be deposited on seabed or shoreline areas which could cause long-term destruction of the natural habitat. Depending on the location of living for a sea organism and its adaptation to its way of life, it may be exposed to oil in various ways with varying mechanisms of effect. For plants and animal that are usually located on the surface of the sea, the oils spillage is highly likely to cause considerable adverse impacts to their survival and wellbeing. Such effects may result from physical smothering as well as exposure to their forces (Jernelöv, 2010). 

Moreover, major oil spills in the ocean, especially where fishing happens, is an implication that enterprises dealing in the commercial fishery would be adversely affected to the extent that they may be forced to close down. Wildlife including birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals living with the environments close to the ocean may also be exposed to contamination associated with oil spillage. The danger of oil spillage to wildlife living close the sea includes exposure to ingestion, damage to the reproductive system, and interference with thermal insulation among others (Jernelöv, 2010). According to Buskey, White, and Esbaugh (2016), the marine ecosystem may be regarded as one of the most complex habitats, and any fluctuation in the abundance of species occasioned by contamination through a major oil spillage could lead to considerable losses. Since a large amount of oil from spillage usually floats, several of creatures that are typically significantly affected are the ones floating on water such as seabirds and sea otters. If oil stays around a beach for a longer duration, sea creatures such as clams, snails, and terrestrial animals would be poisoned. 

Fish and sand other marine creatures may not undergo immediate exposure following oil spillage in the sea, but will eventually be affected by oil when it mixes with the water column. Exposure to oil may cause reduced growth in fish. Off-shore spillage of oil could substantially harm several components that form part of the natural ecosystem. Coastal and marine wildlife exposed to this kind of spillage are more likely to suffer from both long-term and immediate changes to their behaviors and physiology. Small amounts of oil may result in physical harms to marine creatures on a temporary basis. Moreover, oil spillage can cause different forms of trauma to these creatures such as the alteration of the immune system, irritation of the skin, and damage of the developmental or reproductive capabilities. Oil spills can be associated with indirect effects such as influence on the behavior of marine creatures and the surrounding wildlife. Whenever a major oil spillage occurs, the creatures and wildlife tend to relocate from their initial habitats thereby causing disorganization in the ecosystem (Ayers et al ., 2015). In some cases, spilling could result in mortality of specific species of the sea creatures. Once the oil spill had occurred in a sea, and certain seafood have been destroyed, there is competition for the ones remaining where race species are more likely to become more vulnerable to catastrophic events or predators. Studies have been able to establish that some lethal toxic effects on the tissue of flatfish and other species of fish. 

The other effect of major oil spillages in seas and oceans is the exposure of humans to health risks. Different populations around and far from the oceans are usually exposed to varying concentrations or levels toxicity emanating from the spilled oil since humans use the ocean and seas in one way or the other. In this respect, the risk of human exposure to the contaminated water bodies may spread among a person or a group of people with high levels of vulnerability. The other form of risks emanating from the effects of major oil spillage in water bodies is the one that faces workers who are always expected to participate in cleaning up the oil spill. In this regard, such workers often found themselves dealing with extreme levels of heat stress to which their bodies are exposed (Jernelöv, 2010). The observation by Chang et al . (2014) indicates that toxicity from oil spillage in the sea often influences the surrounding community following the persistence of biodegradation occasioned by lack of sufficient oxygen. A review of previous studies and findings from oil spills that have happened in the past been able to provide insights indicating that both exposed and unexposed people may face health risks associated with major spillages in oceans and seas. Major oil spillages are also often related to great adverse economic effects on entrepreneurs, corporations and governments. In this respect, the spillages often result in loss of property and resources, decreased the value of properties and loss of tourism revenues as well as other economic activities such as fishing (Buskey, White & Esbaugh, 2016). 

Communication through the Media and the Oil Company Responsible 

Communication through the media and the general management of oil spillage may be considered as a multifaceted approach that requires large-scale activities and operations with significant influences on the environment around the sea. Communication and response actions may involve specific considerable changes being effected rapidly. According to communications and reports availed through the media, the United States Coast Guard, annual sea oil spill amounts have experienced a dramatic reduction following the introduction of new policies and regulations governing communication through the media as well as the oil company responsible (Anderson, 2002). Nonetheless, despite such developments, critics still observe that there is a need for further improvement in the techniques and means of communicating the occurrence of significant oil spills in the seas. Anderson (2002) maintains that the news media is charged with a more significant role and responsibility in communicating the scientific issue of sea oil spillage to the concerned authorities and members of the public. Besides, the media constitutes a crucial means of communication and source of information regarding scientific matters and society typically. Through the interpretation and reporting of the media, communities can understand the adverse effects of oil spillage in the seas. 

Routine media communication of issues affecting the environment such as oil spills often involves mediation and insights from experts to make it more authoritative. Of great significance and consideration, here, are means through which the media presents communication regarding analysis and evaluation from environmental experts whenever a significant oil spillage occurs in a sea. In some cases, misleading or inaccurate communication may occur through the media where a competing perspective may be portrayed as partisan, irrational and non-credible (Jernelöv, 2010). This nature of interaction could be associated with situations that could discourage sensible discussion characterized by critical thinking. However, Jernelöv (2010) explains that there are always some grounds for consideration of optimism since the media has the potential to play a crucial role in laying grounds for scientific critique other than just reporting the occurrence of major oil spills in the sea and other components of the marine environment. Such an opportunity would be crucial in facilitating the exposure of conflicts related to ideological perspectives and opinions on matters touching on environmental safety. Research findings have been able to indicate that sources of official news that form part of the media may not be in a position to enjoy a sarcastic level of reporting and communication of factors whenever an oil spillage occurs in the sea. 

The oil company involved in the oil spillage begins its communication by issuing a statement that provides details concerning the nature of disaster experienced following the oil spillage as well as the suspected technical failure that may have led to the spillage. At this point, the oil company would be expected to give assurance to the members of the public and the relevant authorities about its commitment to the investigation of the actual cause of the environmental disaster as well as ascertaining the extent of the damage. This preliminary form of communication would then be followed by the adoption of a communication strategy by the oil company that is expected to take responsibility for the major oil spillage in the sea. This particular strategy of communication is based on two aspects associated with the spillage event. First, the firms attempt to describe and explain means and methodology that it would adopt in the process of correcting the environmental problem and concerns occasioned by the spillage. The second aspect involves a description of plans that would be used by the oil company responsible for paying for the damages caused as well as compensating the affected victims (Anderson, 2002). 

Conclusion 

In summing up, it is clear that Major oil spills in oceans and seas are associated with several devastating effects and the way in which they are communicated through the media as well as the oil company responsible really matters. The occurrence of significant oil spillage substantially affects marine creatures and wildlife where they tend to relocate from their initial habitats thereby causing disorganization in the ecosystem. Populations around and far from the oceans are usually exposed to varying concentrations or levels toxicity emanating from the spilled oil since humans use the ocean and seas in one way or the other. Populations around and far from the oceans are usually exposed to varying concentrations or levels toxicity emanating from the spilled oil since humans use the ocean and seas in one way or the other. Oil spills are also often associated with tremendous adverse economic effects on entrepreneurs, corporations and governments. The media is always charged with a more significant role and responsibility in communicating the scientific issue of sea oil spillage to the concerned authorities and members of the public. Communication through the oil company responsible for the spillage presents details concerning the nature of disaster experienced following the oil spillage as well as the suspected technical failure that may have led to the spillage. 

References 

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7 (1-2), 7-15. doi: 10.1016/s1353-2561(02)00048-8 

Ayers, R., Jahns, H., Glaeser, J., Martin, S., & Campbell, W. (2015). Oil Spills in the Arctic 

Ocean: Extent of Spreading and Possibility of Large-Scale Thermal Effects. Science, 

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Buskey, E., White, H., & Esbaugh, A. (2016). Impact of Oil Spills on Marine Life in the Gulf 

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Chang, S., Stone, J., Demes, K., & Piscitelli, M. (2014). Consequences of oil spills: A review 

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http://www.jstor.org/stable/26269587 

Jernelöv, A. (2010). The Threats from Oil Spills: Now, Then, and in the Future. Ambio, 

39 (5/6), 353-366. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/40801529