Oil Spills in Mangroves: Planning and Response Considerations

Though mangrove forests are in many ways adaptable ecosystems, they are highly vulnerable to oil toxicity and can be further damaged by many types of cleanup activities. This report summarizes current research on mangrove ecosystems, written to help minimize environmental impacts in mangroves when oil spills threaten them.

Oil Spills in Mangroves is the second in a series of publications prepared by NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) to provide response-related information on specific warm-water resources. Originally published in 2002, the report was reprinted in July 2010.

In addition to this publication, you may want to learn about the Vesta Bella which sank on March 6, 1991 about 30 miles southeast of Barbuda, Trinidad, oiling beaches and mangroves on the island of St. John (U.S. Virgin Islands) and ultimately, Puerto Rico. Recovery of Mangrove Habitats at the Vesta Bella Oil Spill Site (see link below) describes the spill cleanup on St. John and OR&R's April 1992 revisit of the island.

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Oil Spills in Mangroves: Planning and Response Considerations Report (Document format: PDF, size: 1.5 M)

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Recovery of Mangrove Habitats at the Vesta Bella Oil Spill Site This 1994 report describes the spill cleanup on St. John and our April 1992 revisit of the island to (1) identify and characterize trends in oil weathering and (2) to determine if wiping mangrove roots was an effective cleanup method. (Document format: PDF, size: 4.0 M)