The UK revised its national oil spill contingency plan in 2006. In accordance with the plan, regional Environmental Groups were set up across the UK. Each regional area has a list of experts and expert groups that serve on the regional Environmental Group. The Environmental Group advises the incident command on environmental issues, including wildlife aspects of the response. According to the plan, one of the purposes of Environmental Group is to “facilitate welfare, rehabilitation or humane disposal of wildlife casualties by recognised animal welfare organisations.”

The national plan provides guidance on how oiled wildlife should be dealt with. The three leading animal welfare organisations in the UK have detailed plans in place and would be called upon by the Environmental Group to carry out the rescue and treatment of affected animals in the event of an oiled wildlife incident. These groups are the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (in England and Wales), Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (in Scotland) and the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (in Northern Ireland).

http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/stop_2_09_eg_july_2009.pdf (see Annex 6: Wildlife Welfare)