Oil Pollution Continues to Drift into Marine Protected Areas, SkyTruth Analysis Reveals

A new SkyTruth report shows that between 2022 and 2025, oil slicks from vessels and offshore operations repeatedly entered marine protected areas worldwide. Satellite imagery identified dozens of slicks covering hundreds of square kilometers in protected waters. The most severe case was the Republic of Congo’s Conkouati‑Douli National Park, where 27 slicks totaling 880 km²—likely from three offshore platforms outside the park—impacted habitats for sharks, rays, dolphins, whales, manatees, and nesting sea turtles. In the Mediterranean, 417 km² of slicks affected two important MPAs, including Spain’s Mediterranean Cetacean Migration Corridor, all attributed to vessel traffic. The findings highlight persistent, chronic oil pollution that threatens critical marine ecosystems.