For those who lived on Buzzards Bay during the Bouchard oil spill in 2003, memories of that day are still vivid. The Buzzards Bay Coalition developed new laws that make the Bay safer from oil today than it was back then. But oil spills remain a constant threat. That’s why the Coalition continues to advocate for the strongest possible protections for Buzzards Bay.
Your Questions Answered
Why are oil spills a threat to Buzzards Bay?
Each year, more than 2 billion gallons of oil pass through Buzzards Bay. The Bay is a major transport route for barges carrying oil and gasoline through Cape Cod Canal to Boston and northern New England. Barges carrying oil through the Bay have caused major spills in the past and continue to pose a threat. But other vessels can be a source of small oil spills that can add up to a big problem. In the past 60 years, there have been four major oil spills in Buzzards Bay from barges carrying oil through the Bay.
Buzzards Bay is a tricky waterway for these barges to navigate. There are many rocky reefs and ledges, and vessels can run aground if they’re not familiar with our waters. Because of these challenges and the sheer volume of oil traveling through here, the Bay is in danger of a major oil spill.
The most recent major oil spill happened in 2003. On the afternoon of Sunday, April 27, a tank barge operated by the Bouchard Transportation Company passed on the wrong side of a navigational marker south of Westport. It struck underwater rocks, which gouged a 12-foot hole in the hull. In total, 98,000 gallons of heavy #6 fuel oil spilled into Buzzards Bay. Oil washed up along 93 miles of coastline, clinging to rocks and marsh grasses. Hundreds of seabirds died, and beaches and shellfish beds were closed for months. Beautiful places like Barneys Joy in Dartmouth, West Island in Fairhaven, and Ram Island in Mattapoisett were some of the hardest-hit areas.
Why are oil spills still relevant today?
Large spills aren’t the only oil threat that Buzzards Bay faces. In New Bedford Harbor, even small oil spills can cause local pollution problems. Although harbor workers and local officials are required by law to report oil spills or visible sheens to the U.S. Coast Guard, these smaller spills often go undetected, either dispersing on their own or sinking into the sediment on the harbor floor. According to the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, 34 mystery oil spills have been reported in New Bedford Harbor between 2021 and 2026. Many of these small oil spills are a result of oily bilge water that has been emptied out of boats into the Harbor. Neither New Bedford nor Fairhaven have a pump-out program that allows fishermen to dispose of contaminated bilge water properly.
