Limiting the input of oil into the sea – low number of guillemots killed by oil

Guillemots are seabirds that live at the sea surface and are distributed all over the OSPAR area. If it becomes oiled the common guillemot may die and be washed ashore, thus the presence of oiled birds on beaches can act as an indication of oil pollution at sea.

Inputs of oil come from ships, from land-based sources, by accidents and to a lesser extent from the offshore oil industry. In cases where oil slicks occur at sea, discharges are likely to be illegal. Since the discharge of oil or oily mixtures that cause slicks is prohibited, possible measures would be to further enforce current regulations. In addition, prevention, education, and effective oil recovery may lead to cessation of illegal discharges or reductions in impacts. The aim is to avoid the occurrence of oil spills and their effects.