Fingas had some interesting statistics as part of his presentation - there are 11 oil spills in Canada every day of more than 1,000 gallons. Enbridge, for example, the company responsible for the Great Lakes spill this week, has one spill per month, Fingas said.
He ranks the Gulf oil spill the worst spill in world history.
Fingas said accidents will happen and dealing with oil spills is an extremely complicated matter. He also noted research funding into spills tends to dry up once the public attention is diverted away.
He hopes the Gulf spill is a wakeup call that inspires the public and governments to do as much as possible to prevent disasters and, when they happen, to ensure everyone knows what their role is in cleaning it up.
"I certainly hope so. I hope this has awakened a number of people about the possibility of accidents of offshore drilling,'' Fingas said.
Just the facts
- Oil spills happen very frequently. There are 11 of them everyday in Canada of more than 1,000 gallons.
- The top five oil spills in history are: 1. Gulf of Mexico, 2010; 2. Gulf war, 1991; 3. IXTOC blowout in Mexico, 1979; 4. Atlantic Empress/Aega in Tobago, 1979; 5. Oil well blowout in Uzbekistan, 1992.
- The infamous Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 ranks 56th on the list.
Source: Mervin Fingas, keynote speaker at the Coastal Zone Canada Association conference in Charlottetown Thursday.
