Marine oil spills are a form of environmental disaster, with far-reaching consequences for biodiversity and coastal livelihoods. However, India's preparedness to prevent such incidents and mitigate their impact has significant gaps. Analyze.

For reaching consequences -> for biodiversity (1) Fisheries are affected -> high scale suffocating, reduced oxygen => Mass fish kills in Bere coast (2023) (2) Coral bleaching due to hampered sunlight (and oil cover) (3) Marine organisms consume toxic oil leading to deaths. For coastal livelihoods: (1) Loss of livelihood - reduced fisheries and catch (2) Loss of life - due to contaminated water for consumption. (3) Increased diseases land morbidities => water borne -> cholera threat. India's prevention and mitigation gaps: (1) Lack of adequate plans to address oil spillage => leakage from vizag oil plant threatened lives of people (2) Inadequate preparedness for fishermen (3) Inter agencies co-ordination has been an issue. (4) Inadequate usage of satellite technology for mitigating marine. Global threat..wells -> Oil spills on high seas -> come to coastal region. (5) Inadequate international regulations. Why forward movement: => Adopt best practices of fettling logs => OIL Zappers for removal of oil => MARPOL convention for better international collaboration => NDMA guidelines for marine oil spill issues (CBRNl disasters) => Centre-state co-ordination to manage risks.

— PATHAK · AIR 215