Student’s Last Name 1

Student’s Name

Professor’s Name

Subject

DD Month YYYY

THE EFFECTS OF OIL SPILLS ON OCEANS

July 8th 2019

Mr. Darren Woods

CEO ExxonMobil

Irvin Texas

Texas, 54937

Dear Mr. Woods,

Oil spills caused by pipeline, offshore oil rigs or damaged tankers have always resulted in

immediate and long-term damage to the environment that lasts for decades. French-McCay et al,

indicated that globally, it’s estimated that approximately 709 million gallons of oil waste enters

the ocean annually, with half of it emerges from drainage of land and waste disposal, for

instance, improper disposal of motor oil and leaks from tankers typically contributing to less than

8% of the total pollution seen in oceans. The remainder mainly comes from oil spills, routine

ship maintenance and hydrocarbon particles emerging from onshore air pollution. As a result,

this tends to be a threat to oceans, plants and marine life.

Spilled oil tends to have serious consequences on marine life due to the chemical constituents

that are poisonous. Besides, exposure of the animals to the oil substances tends to affect their
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ability to bear-fur, this leads to the inability to repel water and insulation from cold water, as a

result, and the animals die from hypothermia. For animals living in the water such as fish and

shellfish, exposure to these harmful elements does occur immediately. But, once the oil is mixed

into the water columns, the fish become exposed to the oil. As a result of this exposure, it is

difficult for fish to enlarge their livers, there are also changes in respiratory rates, fin erosion is

also witnessed and reproduction impairment (Alonso-Alvarez et al, Pg. 12). Oil spills also tend

to harm eggs and larval survival in oceans.

Oil spills in the ocean also tend to have indirect consequences on marine life. For instance, as a

result of oil spills, animals in oceans may be forced to relocate to new areas in search of food.

This tends to have negative economic consequences on individuals whose main source of

livelihood is fishing. Besides relocation, oil spills also tend to increase the amount of time they

spend foraging leading to a decrease in diet diversity because of low food availability leading to

reduced health. At the same glance, the energy used by these animals due to exposure may be

heightened as a result of physiological challenges. Natural life cycles are also affected by oil

spills (Chang). Here, due to changes in different life-stages within marine-life and shifts in

habitats, there may be ripple effects in food chains and this may affect the ability of species to

rebound when exposed to oil spills.

Besides affecting marine life, oil spills also have serious consequences on the environment. Take

the case of where an oil spill has occurred, it coats everything and becomes unwelcoming to each

part of the eco-system. Moreover, once the oil is washed to the coastal beaches it damages plants

and the region becomes unsuitable for wildlife and human habitat. Additionally, once the oil

starts sinking into the ocean, it is also a danger to the eco-system. Essentially sinking of oil
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would affect smaller organisms and fish that are essential links in the global food chain.

Therefore, it’s clear that oil spills tend to have a serious effect on the ocean's eco-system.

Having enlightened you on the consequences oil spills have on the environment. I urge that when

mining in the ocean that you can consider the serious consequences you will be implicating to

ocean’s eco-system and marine life. Besides, I believe that even if you continue mining oil in the

ocean that you will consider all necessary measures to prevent oil spills.

Yours Sincerely

[Student’s Name]
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Work Cited

Alonso-Alvarez, Carlos, Cristobal Pérez, and Alberto Velando. "Effects of acute exposure to

heavy fuel oil from the Prestige spill on a seabird." Aquatic Toxicology 84.1 (2007): 103-110.

Chang, Stephanie E., et al. "Consequences of oil spills: a review and framework for informing

planning." Ecology and Society 19.2 (2014).

French-McCay, Deborah P., et al. "Evaluation of the consequences of various response options

using modeling of fate, effects and NRDA costs of oil spills into Washington

waters." International Oil Spill Conference. Vol. 2005. No. 1. American Petroleum Institute,

2005.