When people hear ‘oil spill’ they often think of spills in the ocean, oil spills can also be on land as well. However, oil spills in the water are extremely devastating to the animals that live there. For marine animals that have fur or feathers, like birds or otters, oil spills reduce the insulation fur and feathers provide to the animals. Because these water repelling features are vital to the animals survival, these animals often die of hypothermia. 

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Animals like young sea turtles will get caught in oil and mistake it for food. Other animals such as birds will try to clean the oil off of them and accidentally swallow it. Both times the animals will be poisoned by the oil. Dolphins and whales can inhale oil, which messes with their lungs, immune system, and reproduction. 

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Other animals such as some fish, coral, and shellfish may not be affected as immediately and as directly as the other animals mentioned above, but they are still affected. The effects on adult fish can be enlarged livers, changes in heart and respiration rates, fin erosion, and reproduction impairment. Young fish and eggs are often killed by a spill. When animals do survive oil spills, they often become lethal or poisonous for humans to eat.

 

Humans are also affected by spills. Other than the obvious reason, fisheries, oceanic tourism is also badly affected by spills. Water supplies can also be damaged.