News
First oiled bird rescued from Trinidad spills
An oil-covered gull has been washed and is being rehabilitated at the Wildlife Orphanage and Rehabilitation Centre in Trinidad, the first to be rescued from series of spills affecting the coastline of southwestern Trinidad.
Oil Spill Response offers new oiled wildlife response planning courses in 2014
Oil Spill Response (OSRL) is offering a new oiled wildlife response planning course, developed in collaboration with Sea Alarm and other leading wildlife experts, twice in 2014, once in Singapore in February and once in Belgium in October.
UC Davis Bird Hazing Manual available for download
Exposure to oil creates health issues for birds and the cleaning/rehabilitation process is in itself stressful, making prevention the preferred option where possible. The Bird Hazing Manual, now available online at no charge, covers every aspect of hazing, or dispersing, birds from an oil spill site, helping responders to determine where and how hazing can fit into their response efforts.
Drones used to help study movement of oil in the Gulf of Mexico
In a twist on classical drift block studies, drifters deployed by the Surfzone Oil Coastal Pathways Experiment (SCOPE) are being tracked using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).
Tanker Safety Panel gives recommendations for Oil Spill Response in Canada
The report, A Review of Canada’s Ship-source Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Regime, released by the Tanker Safety Panel in early December 2013 covered two areas of special interest to oiled wildlife responders.
European Parliament increases environmental impact assessment requirements
The European Parliament has voted in a number of changes to the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, some focused on the research into and extraction of mineral resources. Activities such as the use of sonar and similar sound-based equipment when mapping the ocean floor for potential sources of oil and gas would require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) prior to commencing work.
Singapore Green Pledge signed by sixty maritime companies to date
In 2011, Singapore’s Maritime Port Authority initiated a clean and green shipping programme. Since that time 60 companies have signed the Maritime Singapore Green Pledge and 96 ships have been officially recognised as Green Ships.
2014 Pacific Seabird Group Conference to host special session on oiled seabird rehabilitation
The 41st Annual Meeting of the Pacific Seabird Group (PSG) will be held in Juneau, Alaska from 19-22 February 2014. The conference will include a special paper session entitled Oiled Seabird Rescue and Rehabilitation: Is it worth it?
New US regulations protect marine mammals during naval training and testing
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the US regulatory body charged with protecting the marine environment, has issued new regulations that aim to reduce the risk of injury to marine mammals during naval activities.
Job Opening: Research Officer, Wildlife Response, Massey University, New Zealand
The Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences at Massey University, Palmerston North, invites applications for a Research Officer/ Senior Research Officer in Oiled Wildlife Response. More information is provided here.