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The Sea Empress oil spill (Wales, UK): effects on Common Scoter Melanitta nigra in Carmarthen Bay and status ten years later |
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| Authors: | Banks A N Sanderson W G Hughes B Cranswick P A Smith L E Whitehead S Musgrove A J Haycock B Fairney N P |
| Institution: | aBritish Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU, UK bCountryside Council for Wales, Maes-y-Ffynnon, Ffordd Penrhos, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor LL57 2DW, UK cWildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT, UK dAtkins Environment, Water and Environment Division, 260 Aztec West, Park Avenue, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4SY, UK |
| Abstract: | Carmarthen Bay, UK, regularly supports internationally important numbers (>16,000) of non-breeding Common Scoters Melanitta nigra. The spill of 72,000 tonnes of crude oil from the Sea Empress in 1996 affected birds both through direct mortality and likely pollution of key food resources. Numbers were greatly reduced following the spill, whilst changes in the distribution of birds within Carmarthen Bay suggested that potentially sub-optimal foraging zones were used. However, ten years after the incident, numbers of Common Scoter were no different to those recorded immediately before the spill. Compared to some other spills, rapid revival is evident. Numbers increased to pre-spill levels within three winters and distributional changes suggested a concurrent return to previously contaminated feeding areas, implying that the ecosystem had regenerated sufficiently to support its top predator. The importance of prolonged, standardised monitoring of bird numbers and distribution as indicators of ecological recovery from environmental damage is emphasised. |
| Keywords: | Seaducks Wales Population recovery Crude oil Ecosystem health Shipwreck |
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