Oil Spill :A Potential Threat to Marine and Estuarine Compartments

The marine and estuarine compartments are important components of our future gen­erations. The biological productivity, taxonomic diversity and aesthetic beauty of this aquatic resource area of the planet Earth needs to be preserved for rational exploitation and sustainable use of its biotic and abiotic components. With the advent of civilization, the pace of industrialization and urbanization has increased exponentially which has posed a significant negative impact on the positive health of the marine and estuarine compartments. The spillage of oil in the aquatic phase of such compartments is a matter of great concern, as the entire food chain may get disturbed depending on the magni­tude, nature and residence time of the spilled oil. The present paper highlights this im­ portant issue through some relevant studies.