3. The Marine Animals

• Species affected include: porpoises, dolphins, guillemots, gannets, some species of shearwater, black legged kittiwakes, cormorants, ...
• Some 1,000 birds are being treated in the rescue centres. So far, the mortality rate after or during treatment is very low, at around 5 per cent. Another 1,000 birds have been found dead. Usually, only 5 per cent of birds that are affected by the fuel are found, which means 20,000 individuals may have been impacted by the oil. The most pessimistic specialists fear that up to 100,000 birds could have died, as it is wintering and migratory time. They are mainly concerned by the fate of Iberian guillemots, as out of the 22 pairs (44 birds) known to live in the area, 12 birds have already been found dead.

Marine birds affected by the fuel oil

Death on the beach

Death on the sea bed