by IVAN VALENSKY @ CDNN - Cyber Diver News Network
CORCUBION, Spain (24 Dec 2002) -- The massive oil spill off Spain's northwest coast threatens dolphins and other marine mammals that have been coated with tar-like heavy oil.
Environmentalists and scientists say that five bottlenosed dolphins, six common dolphins, three porpoises and 13 sea turtles have been found covered with oil off the coast of Galicia.
The breathing passages of two of the dolphins were completely clogged and authorities fear hundreds and hundreds more face suffocation and death.
The most dangerous threat to large marine mammals comes from ingesting oil, or from contact with oil-coated algae.
Another threat comes from anti-pollution measures such as oil containment sea barriers that cause severe stress in dolphins and porpoises.
Spain's Organization for the Study of Marine Mammals (CEMMA) and the Spanish Cetacean Society (SEC) have been monitoring the impact of the oil spill on marine mammals and turtles, and have issued a preliminary report.
