The structure, prescriptions and approach of any operational contingency plan will typically reflect specific cultural traditions and philosophies on how emergencies are best dealt with. However, as expanded on in the IPIECA Guide to Oiled Wildlife Response Planning, it is recommended to organise the plan in three distinct sections:

Strategy section

This is the preparation section which contains all the advance planning. The Strategy section should contain the following topics:

• Control – document circulation, plan revision process and recording.
• Introduction and scope – what is the plan for and what area does it cover?
• Regulatory Environment – the legal and legislative instruments which underlie the plan?
• Organisations involved and their role as stakeholders in oiled wildlife response.
• Risk Assessment – areas, habitats and species at risk.
• Response Policy and Response Strategies – response objectives e.g. extent to which rehabilitation is attempted, guidelines/criteria for euthanasia.

Operations section

This is the action section that contains ‘must know’ information. The Operations section should cover the following topics:

• Initial Procedures – incident reporting, notification and assessment
• Operations planning and mobilisation e.g. assembling response team, assigning response priorities, identifying and establishing facilities, beach search and collection activities etc.
• Equipment, supplies and services, including veterinary, capture & collection, communications etc.
• Management, manpower and training – incident organisation chart, action cards for each position, availability of trained responders and additional manpower.
• Communications plan and equipment.
• Control and termination of operations.
• Financial and claims procedures.

Data section

This is the appendix section for ‘should know’ information. The Data Section should contain the following information:

• Maps and charts – facilities, local area, species distribution, high risk areas, shoreline types, potential search and collection sites.
• Ancillary information including: contact directory, resource/equipment inventories, providers of support equipment, vulnerable species information, wildlife handling instruction sheets,animal care and rehabilitation protocols, etc.