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The latest on the oil leak in Poole harbour
On Sunday, 26 March, there was an oil leak into Poole harbour in Dorset, with a major incident being declared. Here’s the latest on the spill and the impact it has had on the huge amounts of wildlife which live in the waters and the surrounding landscape.
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Details of the oil leak
Poole Harbour Commissioners, who runs and regulates the port, said the leak started on Sunday (26 March) from a pipeline operated by a nearby gas company, Perenco. The leak is of reservoir fluid, which is made up of 85% water and 15% oil. Around 200 barrels of the liquid leaked into the harbour.
Why is the leak so concerning?
Poole harbour is internationally important for wildlife and much of the waters and surrounding land are protected as nature reserves. This includes RSPB Arne.
Peter Robertson senior site manager at RSPB Arne, said: “We have today (31 March) recorded oil along the tideline at our Arne nature reserve in Poole Harbour. This rich wildlife haven has numerous national and international designations. Clearly, there is no such thing as safe oil extraction in this highly protected environment.”
The whole area is home to numerous bird species such as Black-headed Gulls, Mediterranean Gulls, Redshank and Oystercatchers which breed on the coastline. Many other water birds rely on the harbour mudflats for food.
At the moment there are also wintering Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit and Curlew still present in the harbour. There may also be a risk to the many birds that fish here, such as Sandwich Terns and Ospreys.
How has wildlife been affected so far?
We’ve had reports of 30 birds showing signs of contamination in the area, such as brown smudges on their feathers. So far, all seem to be feeding, flying and behaving normally. Species include Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Shelduck and Mute Swan.
But the only way for them to clean is by preening. As it is still early days, we’ve yet to see what the impact may be once they digest the substance on their feathers, so we are continuing to monitor the situation closely.
Will the impact get worse?
It’s too early to know the scale of impact but we are cautiously optimistic that it may not be as bad as we first feared. With that said, we suspect the number of contaminated birds will continue to rise in the short term.
As with all oil leaks, even when it disappears from the surface of the water, it doesn‘t mean it’s gone. Some of it will evaporate but some will become incorporated into muddy sediments of Poole harbour. This mud is the very base of the food chain and food for many creatures which are then eaten by birds, fish and other wildlife. These particles of oil could stay there for months if not years and could feed back into the food chain. This is our big long-term concern.
What’s the RSPB doing to help?
We’ve been monitoring the situation closely and are in regular contact with the authorities and our conservation partners to support the response as best we can.
Is the oil spill a risk for people?
Visitors to the area should follow the safety advice issued by the harbour commissioner and avoid beaches and the water around Poole Harbour, Studland and Brownsea Island. We recommend dogs are kept on leads.
What should I do if I see a contaminated bird?
As we are not an animal welfare organisation, any questions about the welfare of animals should be directed to the RSPCA.
