From the 5th to the 9th of October, the city of Tallin, in Estonia, has hosted the 10th International Conference on the Effects of Oil on Wildlife. Mari Luz Parga, head of Medicine Conservation of SUBMON, has attended this conference, where international experts in this field have met during 5 days of talks, discussions and workshops.

This international conference was founded in 1982 by the NGO “Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research”, and it has since gained international importance and impact, being considered currently as the premier oiled wildlife response conference. The meeting is organized every 2-3 years, alternating locations in North America and Europe, and its aim is to promote the international collaboration between institutions with an interest in the care and conservation of oiled wildlife and their habitats.

This year the conference has been held in Tallin, Estonia, organized by Sea Alarm, Oil Spill Response and the Estonian Fund for Nature – ELF. 143 attendees from 26 countries have attended.

    Attendees in a talk during the conference                 Washing a bird in a practical workshop

During 3 days talks have taken place on different topics related to oiled wildlife, its treatment and care, and the development of prevention and emergency response strategies. Two more days have been dedicated to practical workshops, such as oiled bird washing, necropsies, or design of emergency centers for oiled wildlife in case of large oil spills, among others. The attendees have also taken the opportunity to exchange experiences, establish collaborative relationships between institutions, and discuss about topics such as the research priorities in the field of oiled wildlife.