Introduction

This book presents a review of knowledge on oil pollution in the North Sea. Making use of a range of data from satellite imagery, remote-sensing, aerial surveillance, in situ monitoring, oil spill sampling and beached bird surveys, it presents a picture of trends in oil pollution in the region over many years. It examines national practices in a number of North Sea states, the impact the North Sea being given Special Status for oil under the MARPOL Convention and the activities of the Bonn Agreement, OSPAR Commission and EMSA CleanSeaNet in monitoring the region. It also examines the development of a common method for oil spill identification by the Bonn-Oil Spill Identification Network and the use of sensors to identify spills in the German North Sea. The use of beached bird surveys in North Sea and in Dutch waters also provides a tool for monitoring chronic oil pollution in coastal waters. The publication brings together the work of scientists, legal and policy experts, academic researchers and specialists in various fields relating to marine environmental protection, oil pollution and the North Sea.