Biological effects on benthos around the Beryl Oil Platform

Abstract

Effects have been observed on the benthic fauna around the Beryl oil platform and preliminary statistical analysis would appear to indicate that the levels of persistent naphthalenes and the phenanthrene/anthracene group of compounds in the sediment may be contributory factors. Diversity has been severely reduced close to the platform and suppressed up to a distance of about Imile from the oil installation. The feeding guilds of the polychaetes have been altered, deposit feeding becoming the very dominant strategy and filter feeding being totally excluded close to the platform.