Safe Boating

Small oil spills can have negative impacts locally

By Roz Butziger
Posted 2/11/16

We’ve all heard of the Exxon Valdez oil spill that spoiled a pristine bay in Alaska, but oil can cause local problems in Narragansett Bay as well, and it doesn’t have to be from a tanker like the …

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Safe Boating

Small oil spills can have negative impacts locally

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We’ve all heard of the Exxon Valdez oil spill that spoiled a pristine bay in Alaska, but oil can cause local problems in Narragansett Bay as well, and it doesn’t have to be from a tanker like the World Prodigy which caused an oil spill here back in 1989.

Small oil spills can have devastating effects on the marine life in a bay or cove, killing plants, birds, fish and shellfish. Among all the other problems they cause, petroleum products are carcinogenic! Some overlooked areas like Mary’s creek in Apponaug Cove is a valuable nursery for the shellfish beds in Greenwich Bay. Even a minor spill in Apponaug Cove can have far reaching effects on clams and quahogs. Oil on fish eggs can cause them not to develop. And if oil is ingested by adult fish they can develop damage to internal organs and tissue degeneration. Birds ingest oil by preening themselves if they swim into a slick, and this can cause internal lesions. In thicker oil they lose the ability to swim or fly. Marine mammals like our bay’s harbor seals have the same problems. A single quart of oil can create a two-acre oil slick! How much oil counts as a spill? Any amount does! If there is a sheen, there is a spill. Maintain your engine properly so there are no leaks, and keep absorbent pads in the bilge to prevent even a small amount from going overboard. What if you notice a large oil spill at your marina? Certainly notify the marina owner who has all the required contacts. The Coast Guard Auxiliary has teams that go around to marinas testing for oil spills so they can be contained and keep the environment safe.

Refined products like motor oil and gasoline are more toxic because they are water soluble and are easily absorbed by soft tissues of animals. Watch out while you are fueling up because you could cause pollution from spilled gasoline. Don’t overfill your tanks. It’s good to have an absorbent pad at hand to collect any spill before it goes overboard. I have heard people say that they just pour Dawn detergent on any fuel that gets on the water and it sinks. That is actually worse. Then it can’t evaporate. Moreover, this practice is against the law. Just prevent the spill in the first place. While we’re on the subject, what about a gasoline spill in the bilge? You can reduce the danger of explosion by pouring ammonia into the bilge to cap the fumes. The liquid isn’t the explosive part – it is the fumes.

What about sewage? We all know this can pollute our shellfish and make an area unsafe for swimming. As you know, sewage can carry hepatitis, cholera, dysentery to name a few. In order to prevent this, Rhode Island has mandated head inspections every two years. Does your boat need one?  If you have a small boat with a detachable port-a-potty which you dump out in an appropriate place ashore, you do not need an inspection. If you have an installed (permanent) head, then you do need one. Most marinas have a certified head inspector available. It doesn’t take long and the cost is low. You know where to pump out in your home port, but if you are boating in an unfamiliar area you can locate a pump out facility by calling the US Fish and Wildlife Service at 800-ASK FISH (800-275-3473). When we are on the bay, we are guests. We share the bay with all the marine life and we need to respect their home.

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