According to the paper i read fuel oil evaporates at a rate of 13% of volatile components over 3 months. As I said in an earlier reply even at double that rate it is 6months before 1/2 the more toxic ( read volatile)components have evaporated.
I dont know where you draw the line, FNQ, but for me, 12 months plus with environmentally damaging material all over the beaches is way too long.
I simple do not understand why you would continue espousing that view.
The material is not benign and will not be for a minimum of 12 months.
After which time recovery could proceed unimpeded.
Until the material is rendered benign by nature or removal it will continue to have an effect.
My speculations of yesterday have come to fruitition.
There is indeed a much larger spill than first reported, possibly more than 100tons, which puts it in the moderate spill category.
And it is affecting more of Moreton's previosly unaffected beaches,as well as Bribie and the North Coast beaches..
As i type this I can feel the beginnings of a NE seabreeze, If there is a rising tide as well we can expect oil to enter the " Bay"
I do not agree with you that this is "small potatoes", and I further disagree with the premise that letting, 'Nature take its course' is an appropriate response.
And I certainly dont think I am being histrionic in these views.
No, it's not of the order of ExxonV.... but no-one said it was.
What has been said by many is this will have a recognizable effect on the fishing environment .
I suspect it will take much more than twelve months for nature to repair.
Cheers
rando