The goal is to find the right mix of equipment, personnel, and techniques that will minimize a spill's environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural impacts. Yes, oil spills can have serious long-term impacts to the environment. The long-term impacts to birds and mammals include lower reproduction rates and physical mutations in offspring. Harmful oil components can contaminate fish that are in turn eaten by other fish, seabirds, and humans, thus passing these harmful components up the food chain. Once oil is trapped in sediments, it can be recirculated into the water and remain in the food chain for many years.
Some research indicates that oil can remain in sediments for hundreds of years.