Oil Pollution Found Along the Coasts of Five or More Counties — Beyond Filing an Emergency Report, What Else Can You Do?

In early December, "heavy oil pollution" was discovered along the Youzhu Lake coastline on Green Island, Taitung — black oil slicks coating the rocky reef shore and even caking the bodies of crabs. Shortly after, oil contamination began appearing in quick succession at Chaojing in Keelung, Magang in New Taipei, Dali in Yilan, and Jiupeng in Pingtung.

In an effort to minimise harm to the ocean, the Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA) and local governments had mobilised more than 400 personnel by December 16, clearing oil contamination at 16 sites and removing a total of 2,705 kg of waste — including oil-absorbent pads, sand, and debris. In this article, BlueTrend walks you through what to do when you encounter an oil spill, where the pollution might be coming from, and how authorities trace it back to the source. Read on!

What Should You Do When You Spot an Oil Spill?

If you witness oil pollution, your first step is to report it to the nearest port authority or maritime rescue unit, or to call your county or city's Environmental Protection Bureau directly. Once a "marine pollution incident" report is received, the competent authority will launch an emergency response based on the location, severity, and extent of the oil contamination.

Two Key Priorities in Oil Spill Response

When dealing with oil pollution, the top priorities are containing the spill to prevent it from spreading, and identifying the source as quickly as possible in order to cut it off.

Containing the Pollution

• Corralling and concentrating the oil — Oil booms are deployed to contain and isolate the slick, preventing it from spreading further. Satellite imagery and drones are sometimes used for wide-area aerial monitoring, tracking ocean current directions to get ahead of the spill's movement. Deploying oil booms requires careful consideration of location and sea conditions. In this particular series of incidents, most contamination occurred in the intertidal zone, requiring "intertidal oil booms" — inflatable on the upper portion and water-ballasted on the lower. At high tide, they float on the surface to block the spread of surface oil; at low tide, the water-filled lower section holds the boom firmly against the beach, making it more resistant to wave action.

• Removing the oil — Clearing oil requires first absorbing it with specialised materials. Oil-absorbent pads are a common choice, and in recent years newer eco-friendly absorbent materials have emerged that draw oil into their pores and lock it in, improving removal efficiency. In reef zones, for example, eco-friendly absorbents can penetrate into crevices in the rock. Their hydrophobic properties cause them to float on the water surface, allowing seawater to wash them into nearby tidal channels where they can be collected and removed.

• Disposing of oil-saturated waste — Whether it's recovered oil or oil-soaked booms, absorbent pads, and other waste materials, disposal must be handled carefully to avoid secondary contamination. Oil-containing waste is typically bagged and transported away from the affected area. In environments where collection and removal are difficult, straw or organic materials may be laid down instead, allowing natural decomposition to take place.

Tracing and Managing the Source

The OCA and local environmental protection bureaus collect evidence and take samples at the incident site, while also using ocean current backtracking simulation technology and the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to investigate vessels that passed through the waters near the affected area as potential pollution sources.

To reduce harm when incidents do occur, the OCA and local governments regularly conduct marine pollution response drills, familiarising relevant personnel with containment, absorption, and cleanup procedures — including how to operate pollution-response equipment.

Every pollution incident also requires an assessment of the local environmental sensitivity and ecological resources in order to plan an appropriate emergency response. When resources are limited, ecologically sensitive areas are prioritised — which is why long-term ecological surveys and the ongoing accumulation of environmental data are so important.

Oil Spill Incidents Keep Coming — Penghu Hit Too

Beyond the five counties experiencing unknown oil contamination, Penghu has also recently suffered an oil spill incident. A Cameroonian cargo vessel lost power due to engine failure and drifted before running aground at Houliao, Baisha, Penghu. Oil pollution was detected spreading to the coastline on December 18, with a diesel slick covering an area of approximately 10×300 metres. The Penghu County Environmental Protection Bureau, Coast Guard Administration, and OCA all mobilised, and local organisations rallied volunteers to join the cleanup effort.

Where Does Oil Pollution Come From?

In the Penghu oil spill, the source was clear, allowing for faster and more effective pollution control. However, the origins of the multi-county contamination events remain under investigation. Many are concerned that without cutting off the pollution at its source, relying solely on shoreline cleanup could consume enormous amounts of manpower and resources.

There are many possible causes of marine oil pollution. BlueTrend has compiled four of the most common types:

• Maritime accidents: There are domestic and international regulations governing the transport of chemicals by ship. However, if a vessel carrying chemical cargo suffers a maritime accident, it can result in serious marine pollution.

• Oil transfer facility leaks: Oil is transported in roughly two ways — offshore buoy systems and port-based transfer operations. The subsea pipelines and equipment used in offshore buoy transfers can pose a leakage risk if not properly maintained and serviced. Port-based transfers require careful monitoring of pipelines and transfer pressure to ensure normal operation and prevent leaks.

• Land-based pollution: If a storage tank or oil reservoir malfunctions, leaked oil can flow via rivers into the ocean, causing marine environmental pollution.

• Illegal discharge of waste oil from vessels: The sheer number of commercial ships, cargo vessels, passenger ferries, and cruise ships makes comprehensive monitoring extremely difficult. Vessels illegally discharging waste oil at sea are another possible pollution source.

The OCA warns that anyone caught illegally discharging waste oil into the ocean can face a maximum fine of NT$30,000,000 under the Marine Pollution Control Act.

Cleaning up oil spills demands enormous manpower and resources. Beyond the OCA and government agencies at all levels mobilising at full force, local organisations and environmental groups have also joined the cleanup, and ocean-loving volunteers in New Taipei and Yilan have headed to the coast on their own initiative to help. BlueTrend wants to remind everyone: if you genuinely want to lend a hand and help clean up oil from the shoreline, please reach out to local organisations or relevant environmental groups first. Always check sea conditions and prioritise your own safety — do not go on your own without coordination.
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References:

• 臺灣東部海域不明油污 海保署支援清污人力並追查污染源（Ocean Conservation Administration）

• 海委會動員應變喀麥隆籍貨輪「海順（HAI SHOU）」油污案