A heavily
oiled shoreSandy shores are prevalent along the open coastline of South-West Wales, and are particularly extensive and broad within Carmarthen Bay.
In contrast to rocky shores, much of the wildlife of sandy shores lies hidden beneath the surface of the beach. The fauna is dominated by invertebrates that burrow within the sediment column. Polychaete worms, bivalve molluscs and echinoderms are all well represented within the sandy shores of the area. This food resource is normally consumed by fish and diving birds(e.g., scoter ducks) at high tide and by waders and gulls at low tide.
During the second week of the incident the sandy shores on the west side of Carmarthen Bay were particularly badly hit by oil pollution. Large slicks were transported inshore by tidal currents and easterly winds. Whereas the upper shore levels were usually the most heavily polluted, some sandy shores became extensively blanketed by thick layers of oil extending from the strandline down to the low-water mark.
A heavily
oiled shore
In contrast, the sandy beaches on the east side of Carmarthen Bay enjoyed a remarkable escape, with only very light, localized oiling having been recorded. The unusual prevalence of offshore winds held the oil further west.
Clean-up operations are usually relatively straightforward for level sandy beaches, and even the most badly affected shores in the area were greatly improved by cleaning during the first 4 weeks of the incident.
Most burrowing invertebrates of sandy shores are either filter feeders, drawing food-laden water into their burrows, or deposit feeders, consuming material accumulated at the sediment surface. Both types of invertebrate species are vulnerable during oil pollution episodes.
Whereas some burrowing invertebrates appeared to fare relatively well, others succumbed. Mass strandings of traumatised and dead invertebrates were evident upon a number of polluted shores.
Sandy shores throughout the area also received numerous carcasses of birds killed by oil slicks at sea, and the remains of fish and other wildlife killed on nearby rocky shores.
University of Wales Swansea School of Biological Sciences Home Page
Authors: Peter Dyrynda, Rob Symberlist
Contributor: Peter Hayward
Contact: P.Dyrynda@swansea.ac.uk
Update: 22/1/98