Oil Spill Threats to Marine Mammals. The Marine Mammal Oil Spill Response Guidelines offer a thorough introduction to marine mammals and their sensitivity to spilled oil. See Table 9310-6 for a summary of response actions for oiled marine mammals. For pinnipeds, fur and blubber aid thermoregulation, and direct contact with oil may cause dermal injury and conjunctivitis. Thermal insulative value is of particular concern for fur seals since they do not rely on a thick blubber layer for insulation, and this may result in hypothermia. For both pinnipeds and cetaceans, ingestion of oil may cause gastrointestinal ulcers, liver and kidney damage, and behavioral abnormalities. Oil spill responders must consider that capturing, holding, treating, and release places stress on the animal, and the consequences of capture and captivity may be a greater risk to its well-being than contacting oil. Pinnipeds with adequate mobility after contacting oil may subsequently shed the oil through abrasion against the substrate (sand, rocks etc.) when hauling out if uncontaminated shoreline areas are available. Heavily oiled pinnipeds, abandoned or moribund young pups of any species, and species that rely on fur for thermal insulation are the most likely candidates to require temporary care for cleaning or rehabilitation if they lack sufficient mobility to avoid capture. Harbor Seals Yes Yes Case-by-case No Case-by-case Northern Elephant Seal Yes Yes If exposed during molting or impaired juveniles No unless impaired Case-by-case California Sea lions Yes Yes No unless impaired No unless impaired Case-by-case Xxxxxxx Sea Lions Yes Yes No unless impaired No unless impaired Case-by-case Xxxxxxxxx Xxx Seal Yes Yes Case-by-case No unless impaired Case-by-case Northern Fur Seal Yes Yes Case-by-case No unless impaired Case-by-case Dall’s Porpoise Yes Yes Case-by-case No Case-by-case Harbor Porpoise Yes Yes Case-by-case No Case-by-case Pacific White Sided Dolphin Yes Yes Case-by-case No Case-by-case Gray Whales Yes No1 On-site treatment or euthanasia if appropriate No Case-by-case Humpback Whales Yes No1 On-site treatment or euthanasia if appropriate No Case-by-case Minke Whales Yes No1 On-site treatment or euthanasia if appropriate No Case-by-case 1On-site necropsy if possible
Appears in 4 contracts
Samples: Northwest Wildlife Response Plan, Northwest Wildlife Response Plan, Northwest Wildlife Response Plan
