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Response Options

Responding to an oiled wildlife incident may involve an attempt to prevent wildlife from becoming oiled and/or the treatment of animals if they do become oiled. Some guidance on the various response options is given in the table below.

Aim	Actions that can be considered	What is “best practice”?	Handbooks and Guidelines that provide guidance
Prevent and minimise impacts on wildlife populations	Oil combat at sea	Oil spill response plan Availability of vulnerability maps that include (seasonal) distribution of vulnerable wildlife at sea Pre-identified biologists who could assist in aerial surveillance and the interpretation of real-time field data	Handbook Wildlife Impact Assessment; Guide to Oiled Wildlife Response Planning
	Protect sensitive areas (booming off)	Availability of vulnerability maps that include (seasonal) distribution of vulnerable wildlife in coastal areas	Handbook Wildlife Impact Assessment
	Deterrence and hazing	Have predefined plans in place with reference to effective methods per species	North American handbooks
	Pre-emptive capture	Having predefined plans in place, which include directions for the treatment and fate of captured animals	Case studies in literature
Prevent the continued suffering of individual oiled animals	(Live animals) capture, clean, rehabilitate and release	Systematically search beaches Operate rehabilitation facilities Operate internationally approved methodologies/protocols Apply agreed triage criteria Banding of animals that are ready to be released Apply post release monitoring research	Handbook on good practice oiled wildlife rehabilitation; Guide to oiled wildlife response planning
Prevent the continued suffering of individual oiled animals	(Live animals) capture, euthanise humanely	Systematically search beaches Operate euthanasia facilities Have agreed euthanasia techniques	Handbook on good practice oiled wildlife rehabilitation Guide to oiled wildlife response planning
Assess impacts on wildlife populations	(Dead animals) collect, administrate mortality per species	Systematically search beaches	Handbook Wildlife Impact Assessment
Coordinated involvement of multiple stakeholders, including NGO’s and volunteers	Operate a pre-spill defined plan Have formal agreements in place Provide for a clear, integrated command structure	Develop and agree an OWR plan before the incident, involving all responders Have the plan trained and exercised regularly	Guide to oiled wildlife response planning Examples from various countries in Europe
Health, Safety and Environment	Health and safety of responders at all times as a matter of highest priority Minimise polluted waste and avoid secondary pollution	No wildlife response if health and safety of the responders cannot be guaranteed Require a minimum level of training from all accredited responders Volunteers being instructed and supervised Provide protective clothing	Guide to oiled wildlife response planning Examples from various countries in Europe