Pocket guide for aerial surveillance of marine pollution in the Pacific islands region

Abstract

The importance of accurate reporting of an oil spill is paramount for the preparation of response operations. Many phenomena viewed by an aerial observer may appear similar to oil. These include algal blooms, storm run-off from rivers, coral spawn, kelp and seagrass beds, urban run-off discharged from drainage systems and even fish swimming just under the sea surface. This package is designed to help observers characterise the oil and describe what they see in standard terms. Observers should concentrate on the location of the spill, the colour and distribution of the oil and the on-scene weather. In addition to these key matters, observers may be requested to report other observations (eg. vessels observed within the area which could be potential pollution sources or the presence of wildlife).