If an oil spill cannot be kept away from the animals, it could be attempted to keep the animals away from the oil by scaring them and making them move away from areas that are most likely become affected or where oil already has arrived. A wide variety of techniques can be used, but one technique may be more effective than another, depending on the species concerned or the environmental conditions at the time. It is also known that animals easily become accustomed to one method, resulting in a reduced effect with time. Therefore, methods need to be changed regularly.

Deterrence

Deterrence methods aim to scare animals away from a certain area by creating disturbances. These could be auditory or visual or both. Animals ideally will react to the disturbance by moving away from the area and relocating to an alternative area where the threat of pollution is less or non existent. Continuous disturbance over time must avoid that the animals are coming back.

Hazing

Hazing methods are considered more aggressive techniques in the range of possible disturbances.

If and when deterrence and hazing techniques are considered it should be avoided that animals escape into the direction of the oil.