Marine pollution overview

Oil pollution and the environment

The chart below shows the oil that enters the environment each year, according to the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association.

The environmental impact of oil depends on:

• Chemical and physical properties of the oil.
• Effect of weathering on the oil.
• Exposure to marine life.

Chemical and physical properties

Oil can often contain toxic chemicals which could kill marine animals that ingest it. Even if there are no immediate or visible effects, reproduction may be affected, and survival rates of their young may be reduced.

Effect of weathering

As oil weathers and disperses over time, its toxicity generally falls.

Exposure to marine life

Marine life that becomes coated or smothered in oil may suffer from:

• Burning or skin irritation.
• Dehydration.
• Inability to regulate body temperature.
• Physical injury.
• Other effects from the sheer weight of the oil.

Oiled wildlife

Even slight oiling can have major effects. Birds exposed to oil can lose their water resistance, resulting in hypothermia when water comes in contact with the skin. This may cause the bird to preen excessively in an attempt to remove the oil, resulting in ingestion of the oil, which can have lethal consequences.

The Department of Parks and Wildlife is responsible for the care and treatment of oiled wildlife, and works closely with the Department of Transport in responding to oil spills that may affect marine life.

For more information, please refer to the Oiled Wildlife Response Plan, which is part of the State Hazard Plan

Some marine organisms that attach themselves to vessels can affect its performance, damage its equipment and contaminate marine life at another location. Antifouling paint is applied to the hulls of boats to prevent such organisms from attaching themselves.

Use of tributyltin is now restricted worldwide. Western Australia also restricts the use of any antifouling paint that contains copper or tin.

Effect on the marine environment

Antifouling paint can be released as a result of hull cleaning, chipping or scraping. Application and removal of antifouling paint should only take place in a controlled environment.

Biocides are toxic and can kill marine life.

What you can do

• Use Teflon or silicon-based antifouling paints as they are more environmentally friendly.
• Apply or remove antifouling paint in areas where runoff can be contained and collected for disposal, such as a designated area at a boat-lifting facility.
• Collect all paint residue after sanding or scraping the hull and disposing of them appropriately.
• Ensure all antifouling paints are stored and disposed of correctly.

Please also refer to the Antifouling page of the Federal Department of the Environment which also includes a Code of Practice.

To help prevent the introduction of new pest species into Western Australia and to prevent those already here from spreading, regular vessel maintenance and effective antifouling is required.

Aquatic biosecurity is about protecting our oceans, rivers, lakes and dams from the spread of aquatic pests and diseases.

Find out more about good vessel maintenance, and what you can do to keep your vessel clean to make sure it won't be a biosecurity risk for Western Australia.

Many products used to clean boats contain phosphates, ammonia, chlorine or other chemicals that may be toxic to aquatic life.

Cleaning in or around waterways may release chemicals into the marine environment either directly or through drainage systems.

What impact does it have?

Detergents containing phosphate increase the nutrient levels, which could lead to algal blooms. This reduces the amount of oxygen in the water, and kills fish and other marine life.

Phosphates can also accumulate in the sediment and be released again when disturbed.

Some cleaning products can also coat the gills of fish and cut off their oxygen supply, while other products may contain toxic chemicals that accumulate in the food chain and have a domino effect.

What you can do

• Always remove your boat from the water to do any hull cleaning.
• Use minimal cleaning products - cleaning your boat with fresh water and scrubbing brushes after each use will reduce the amount of chemicals needed.
• Not use bleach or products containing chlorine.
• Use phosphate-free, biodegradable cleaning products.
• Use environmentally-friendly alternatives where possible.

Garbage is sometimes dumped overboard from vessels, even though this is not acceptable practice. It could also be released by accident through boating and land-based activities. Garbage may also take a long time to disintegrate, creating a danger for a prolonged period.

Turtles, whales, fish and sea-birds may mistake this garbage for food and try to eat it. As they do not have the ability to regurgitate the ingested rubbish, it could block the digestive system and starve them to death.

Garbage can also entangle marine animals, causing them to starve or drown.

What you can do

• Not throwing any waste overboard, store it in a secure area onboard.
• Collect any garbage you come across, either in the water or on land.
• Dispose of all waste at a proper waste disposal facility on shore.

It is against the law to dump the following in our oceans:

• Oil.
• Plastics thrown into the sea at all;
  • Synthetic ropes,
  • Plastic garbage bags, and
  • Synthetic fishing lines and nets.
• Garbage discharged within 12nm from the nearest land;
  • Food waste,
  • Paper products,
  • Rags,
  • Glass or
  • Metals, etc.

Remember the simple saying: 'Stow it, don't throw it'. View the AMSA brochure for more information.

People and wildlife who live near the shore can find loud noises disturbing. Please ensure that you check you boat's motor to ensure that it is not too loud, and also control the volume of music players and other devices that you have on board.

Another major cause of marine pollution is sewage discharge from vessels, offshore platforms, and coastal facilities.

Find out more about Pollution and sewage regulations in Western Australia.