The Sea Alarm Foundation is a not-for-profit NGO, founded in 1999 and based in Brussels. Our vision is to establish coastal oiled wildlife response plans and professional wildlife response capabilities worldwide to deal with marine wildlife (seabirds, aquatic birds, sea turtles and marine mammals) which are affected by oil spills. We seek to achieve this vision by facilitating and encouraging strategic alliances among non-governmental organisations (NGOs), scientists, governmental authorities, and the oil and shipping industries in order to:

 

Sea Alarm is a small organisation with a big network. We act as an independent and impartial facilitator in the midst of a large variety of stakeholders that may potentially be involved in an oiled wildlife incident. Before an incident happens, we aim to know the key players in every coastal country, to establish good working relationships with them and help them to develop capabilities to deal with oiled wildlife (through wildlife response planning, training and exercises). Sea Alarm is often engaged in organising exchange meetings, workshops, conferences and other events for these stakeholders. Another important part of our work is developing and advocating use of best practices in oiled wildlife response, through intergovernmental organisations such as the European Regional Agreements, European Commission and International Maritime Organisation, as well as industry bodies such as the Oil Spill Working Group of IPIECA (International Petroleum Industry International Environmental Conservation Association), the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) and the IOPC (International Oil Pollution Compensation) Funds. During an oil spill incident when requested, Sea Alarm assists the different parties to implement an effective wildlife response infrastructure which can be put into operation as quickly as possible. This is good for the animals in distress, good for the people that wish to reduce their suffering, good for scientists who wish to measure the impact and good for the authorities and industry that would like to deliver a safe and well organised response. All these activities are made possible through an ongoing cooperation agreement with the oil industry via Oil Spill Response (OSRL), project funding, donations and consultancies. For more information see www.sea-alarm.org.