The need to clean up oil pollution seems obvious. All living creatures, plants and animals, including man have an interdependence. Ecosystem damage could be very serious. The ecosystem is a complex concept in which the environment is considered as a system involving processes by which the living organisms of the world interact with each other and with the non living components of the environment. The damage caused to areas normally full of human activity such as holiday resorts, bathing beaches, and marinas can create understandable anger and frustration.
Pressure is exerted by the public for political action.
Oil spill responses driven by political pressure are not very effective. However, the only antidote is to avoid such a situation entirely by anticipation in the form of good contingency planning and response procedures agreed by all likely interested groups. Examples of these are fisheries, fish stocks, and fish breeding areas. In inland spills farming and forestry might also be affected. Natural resources valued principally because of the pleasure they give to people just because they exist and are experienced may be threatened.