Devastating Consequences: An Oil Spill in the Center of Marine Biodiversity
An oil spill is a catastrophic event where large quantities of petroleum or crude oil are unintentionally released into the environment, resulting in widespread contamination of water, soil, and air, with severe ecological, economic, and social impacts that can persist for years or even decades¹. This was the exact disaster that occurred when MT Princess Empress, an oil tanker carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel, sank off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro² last February 28³.
Naujan is located along the Verde Island Passage (VIP)⁴, regarded as the probable epicenter of marine biodiversity in the Indo-Malay-Philippines Archipelago (IMPA)⁵. This makes it home to an abundance of marine species: marine mammals, turtles, corals, other invertebrates, and fishes⁴. As a matter of fact, SeaLifeBase currently identifies 153 families and 412 species occurring within the VIP ecosystem. The oil spill disrupts the delicate system these organisms maintained throughout the years, which should be a cause for concern due to the long-term environmental consequences⁴.
SeaLifeBase contributes to the conservation efforts of marine life by making available biological and ecological information necessary to conduct biodiversity and ecosystem studies. Having insight on affected species should provide response groups and policy makers evidence-based information to formulate optimized plans of action to protect our precious ecosystems. It is only through collective action and conscious efforts that we can safeguard our planet and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
To be part of this worthwhile cause, visit SeaLifeBase.
Written by: Jasper Mendoza, Research Assistant
*Image taken from OpenStreet Map, licensed under the Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL) by the OpenStreetMap Foundation (OSMF).
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[1] Yuewen, D., & Adzigbli, L. (2018). Assessing the impact of oil spills on marine organisms. Journal of Oceanography and Marine Research, 6(1), 1–7. doi:10.4172/2572–3103.1000179.
[2] Magramo, K. (2023, March 9). Residents hit by dizziness and fever as oil spill blankets coast of Philippine island. Retrieved from CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/09/asia/philippines-oil-spill-residents-tourism-impact-intl-hnk/index.html.
[3] Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (2023, February 28). DENR statement on the maritime incident involving MT Princess Empress off the coast of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. Retrieved from DENR PH: https://www.denr.gov.ph/index.php/news-events/press-releases/4841-denr-statement-on-the-maritime-incident-involving-mt-princess-empress-off-the-coast-of-naujan-oriental-mindoro?highlight=WyJvaWwiLCJzcGlsbCIsIm9pbCBzcGlsbCJd.
[4] Horigue, V., Pressey, R. L., Mills, M., Brotánková, J., Cabral, R., & Andréfouët, S. (2015). Benefits and challenges of scaling up expansion of marine protected area networks in the Verde Island Passage, Central Philippines. PLoS ONE, 10(8), e0135789. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0135789.
[5] Carpenter, K. E., & Springer, V. G. (2005). The center of the center of marine shore fish biodiversity: the Philippine Islands. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 72, 467–480.
