How can oil affect marine birds?
Marine birds are the most vulnerable animals during oil spills and a number of vulnerable, threatened and endangered species live in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. (A seperate information sheet is avaliable on this topic). How can oil affect commercial fisheries and aquaculture operations? Oil can coat the boats and gear used for catching and cultivating marine species. Floating equipment and fixed traps extending above the sea surface are more likely to become contaminated by floating oil whereas submerged nets, traps, lines and bottom tra wls are usually protected, provided they are not lifted through an oily sea surface. Aquaculture stocks are more at risk because they are generally kept in shallow waters. Seaweed is particularly vulnerable in tidal areas where it may be contaminated at low tide. Fish plants and other industries often rely on a continuous supply of clean seawater for their operations, but their intake pipes are usually submerged well below the surface. A greater concern