Written question WQ84546

The oil spill incident on Monday 14 February occurred within the English offshore area close to the median line with the Welsh zone. Therefore the North West (England) Environment Standing Group was triggered to manage the response to the incident. Due to the close proximity to Welsh waters, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) represented Wales in this group, but did not have an operational role.

Arial reconnaissance flights were undertaken in the hours following the incident to identify the extent of the oil. With this information the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) with the support of the group were able to provide various models to predict the likely path the oil would take. The models were based on prevailing weather conditions, which at the time indicated the oil would make landfall in North West (NW) England. The modelling did not suggest any oil would move towards the Welsh coast line.

The NW Environment Standing Group highlighted some potential risks to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along the coast (primarily NW England). However, features within one transboundary MPA, (the Liverpool Bay Special Protected Area) were listed at risk. This MPA covers the north coast of Wales and NW England and the modelling suggested the risk of impact posed to features within this MPA would be in England. Given these projections, NRW does not currently have an operational role in the response.

Welsh Government will continue to liaise with NRW and the JNCC who are monitoring the situation. With severe weather warnings expected across this area, further surveillance at sea has not been possible.