"Right. There's been an oil spill. It's a mile long, half a mile wide between Lamba and Tinga Skerry. Coming from a fractured pipeline..."
These were the opening words this morning from Martin Heubeck of Aberdeen University/SOTEAG (pictured on the right, next to Pete Ellis of the RSPB during the Braer oil spill). Thankfully, what Martin was talking about was an oil spill exercise, organised by BP. Oil affects every person in Shetland as we have the massive Sullom Voe Oil Terminal.
Every year, we go through an oil spill exercise which involves many organisations playing many different roles. Should the oil spill have really happened today, the Clair System (bringing the oil from offshore to the oil terminal) would have been shut down, the fracture traced and clamped and a clean up operation begun. From a wildlife point of view, SNH, SEPA, SSPCA and RSPB amongst others would step into action. First it is all about communication. Then there is an assessment of tide and wind to work out where the oil may go and what birds and other wildlife may be affected. We are fortunate to have a huge amount of information about the birds of Shetland, thanks to years of monitoring (it is soooo important). Then there is lots of things that happen as the day unfolds - regular updates (e.g. feedback from aerial surveys), checking what Zodiacs are available, deciding whether we need to get extra people in to help with beach patrols, how to stabilise and ship oiled birds south to be cleaned and what about their welfare on the overnight ferry - each organisation playing its role in the big drama.
The oil would likely have drifted south and east this morning, being pushed by the rising tide and westerly wind. It could have coated miles of shore. I don't like to imagine the impacts on nature it would have had, but casualties would include long-tailed ducks, puffins, black guillemots (to name only three bird species), also there would be otters, grey and harbour (common) seals and porpoises to consider. Then imagine the economic impacts - fish farms affected, tourists putting off visiting, farmers having to shift sheep from polluted areas. Add to that the more personal impacts. Each year I remember back to the Braer where emotions ran high, like anger, frustration, worry and deep sadness. But also, a favourite emotion of mine comes to the surface - hope. Many people are willing to work together in very difficult conditions to put good a bad situation. Most of all, I am hopeful that we never have to do this for real.