Ecological impacts of marine oil spill pollution: An integrative assessment of ecosystem damages and conservation strategies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61511/jcreco.v2i2.2197Keywords:
biodiversity degradation, ecological impact, oil spill pollutionAbstract
Background: Indonesia, as a maritime nation with 40% of global maritime trade passing through its waters, faces high risks of marine oil pollution. Balikpapan Bay, located in East Kalimantan, has suffered recurring oil spill disasters, notably the large-scale spill in 2018 caused by a ruptured Pertamina pipeline. These spills have severely impacted the marine ecosystem, local biodiversity, and the socio-economic conditions of coastal communities. Methods: This study employed a qualitative descriptive approach through case study analysis. Primary data were collected from government documents, field reports, and previous academic studies, particularly focusing on ecological damage assessments conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, NGOs, and local communities. Spatial data from satellite monitoring were used to assess the extent of the oil spill. The data analysis included categorization of ecological impacts on key ecosystems such as mangroves, coral reefs, seagrasses, marine fauna, and bird species. Findings: The oil spill in Balikpapan Bay contaminated nearly 13,000 hectares of marine waters and 60 km of coastline, causing substantial damage to 34 hectares of mangrove forest, 4 coral reef areas, 5 seagrass beds, and seaweed cultivation zones. It led to mass deaths of crabs, plankton, and endangered marine mammals. Bird populations were also severely affected due to loss of insulation and ingestion of toxic substances. The spill had a cascading effect on the local marine food web, reduced biodiversity, and caused economic losses for traditional fishing communities. Conclusion: The Balikpapan Bay oil spill has led to a multidimensional ecological crisis. This study underscores the urgent need for proactive oil spill prevention and ecosystem protection strategies. Conservation zoning, enforcement of environmental regulations, and community-based monitoring are essential to prevent future disasters. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study presents a comprehensive ecological assessment of the Balikpapan Bay oil spill by combining field data, satellite imagery, and governmental reports. It adopts an integrative approach to map ecological damages and propose policy recommendations grounded in ecological science and conservation planning.
References
Adofo, Y. K., Nyankson, E., & Agyei-Tuffour, B. (2022). Dispersants as an oil spill clean-up technique in the marine environment: A review. Heliyon, 8(8), e10153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10153
Agustin, I. D., Ramadhani, S. P., & Fitri, M. A. H. (2024). Mitigasi Penanggulangan Tumpahan Minyak (Oil Spill) di Perairan Laut Kepulauan Riau Berdasarkan Law Of The Sea Convention . Jembatan Hukum : Kajian Ilmu Hukum, Sosial Dan Administrasi Negara, 1(2), 186–208. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.62383/jembatan.v1i2.264
Ahmadi, R. (2016). Teluk Balikpapan, Potensi Alam Menjanjikan yang Bukan untuk Disiakan. Mongabay. https://mongabay.co.id/2016/09/29/teluk-balikpapan-potensi-alam-menjanjikan-yang-bukan-untuk-disiakan/
Alvin. (2023). IKN dan Teluk Balikpapan. Forest Watch Indonesia. https://fwi.or.id/ikn-dan-teluk-balikpapan/
Arif, A. (2018). Pencemaran Minyak di Teluk Balikpapan Sudah Sejak 2014. Harian Kompas. https://www.kompas.id/baca/utama/2018/04/06/pencemaran-minyak-di-teluk-balikpapan-sudah-sejak-2014
Asif, Z., Chen, Z., An, C., & Dong, J. (2022). Environmental impacts and challenges associated with oil spills on shorelines. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 10(6), 762. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10060762
Atlas, R. M., & Hazen, T. C. (2011). Oil biodegradation and bioremediation: A tale of the two worst spills in U.S. history. Environmental Science & Technology, 45(16), 6709-6715. https://doi.org/10.1021/es2013227
Balikpapan Bay Civil Society Coalition. (2020). POLICY BRIEF Selamatkan Teluk Balikpapan. Koalisi Masyarakat Sipil Peduli Teluk Balikpapan. https://fwi.or.id/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Policy-Brief_Teluk-Balikpapan.pdf
Bhattacharjee, S., & Dutta, T. (2022). An overview of oil pollution and oil-spilling incidents. Advances in Oil-Water Separation, 3-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-89978-9.00014-8
Boonratana, R. (2021). Nasalis larvatus ssp. larvatus: Meijaard, E., Nijman, V. & Supriatna, J. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2008.rlts.t136946a4351698.en
Danquah, J. A., Roberts, C. O., & Appiah, M. (2021). Effects of decline in fish landings on the livelihoods of coastal communities in Central Region of Ghana. Coastal Management, 49(6), 617-635. https://doi.org/10.1080/08920753.2021.1967562
de Souza Dias da Silva, M. F., Zanardi-Lamardo, E., Valcarcel Rojas, L. A., de Oliveira Alves, M. D., Chimendes da Silva Neves, V., & de Araújo, M. E. (2024). Traces of oil in sea turtle feces. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116088
DIKPLH. (2019). Dokumen Informasi Kinerja Pengelolaan Lingkungan Hidup Daerah Balikpapan Tahun 2018. Dokumen Informasi Kinerja Pengelolaan Lingkungan Hidup Daerah. https://dlh.balikpapan.go.id/content/507/dokumen-informasi-kinerja-pengelolaan-lingkungan-hidup-daerah-(dikplhd)
Elisha, O. D., & Felix, M. J. (2021). Destruction of coastal ecosystems and the vicious cycle of poverty in Niger Delta Region. Journal of Global Agriculture and Ecology, 11(2), 7-24. https://ikprress.org/index.php/JOGAE/article/view/6602
Farooq, U., Szczybelski, A., Ferreira, F. C., Faria, N. T., & Netzer, R. (2024). A novel biosurfactant-based oil spill response dispersant for efficient application under temperate and Arctic conditions. ACS Omega, 9(8), 9503-9515 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c08429
Frontiers in Marine Science. (2025). Integrative oil spill modeling: Ecological and socioeconomic impacts of past and hypothetical spill scenarios. Research Topic, 76204. https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76204/integrative-oil-spill-modeling-ecological-and-socioeconomic-impacts-of-past-and-hypothetical-spill-scenarios
Gusmawati, N. F., Puspita, C. D., & Ratnawati, H. I. (2020). Struktur Komunitas Terumbu Karang di Perairan Teluk Balikpapan, Kalimantan Timur. Jurnal Segara, 16(1), 59–70. https://doi.org/10.15578/segara.v16i1.8649
Hanazaki, N., Berkes, F., Seixas, C. S., & Peroni, N. (2013). Livelihood diversity, food security and resilience among the Caiçara of coastal Brazil. Human Ecology, 41(1), 153-164. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-012-9553-9
Hettithanthri, O., Jayarathna, L., Pilapitiya, S., Pitigala, S., & Vithanage, M. (2024). A review of oil spill dynamics: Statistics, impacts, countermeasures, and weathering behaviors. Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering, 19(1), e3128. https://doi.org/10.1002/apj.3128
ITOPF. (2023). Oil tanker spill statistics 2022. International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited. https://www.itopf.org/fileadmin/uploads/itopf/data/Documents/Company_Lit/Oil_Tanker_Spill_Statistics_2023
Jayarathna, L., Bandara, W. M. K. R. T. W., & Vithanage, M. (2024). Oil spill response: Existing technologies, prospects and perspectives. CleanMat, 1, 100017. https://doi.org/10.1002/clem.17
KLHK Response Team. (2018). Kejadian Tumpahan Minyak (Oil Spill) di Perairan Teluk Balikpapan Kota Balikpapan dan Kabupaten Penajam Pasir Utara, Provinsi Kalimantan Timur. Laporan Tim Penanganan Klhk. https://pwypindonesia.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Laporan-Tim-Penanganan-Kejadian-Tumpahan-Minyak-di-Perairan-Teluk-Balikpapan-Kota-Balikpapan-dan-Kabupaten-Penajam-Paser-Utara-Provinsi-Kalimantan-Timur.pdf
Kreb, D., Lhota, S., Porter, L., Redman, A., Susanti, I., & Lazecky, M. (2020). Long-Term population and distribution dynamics of an endangered irrawaddy dolphin population in balikpapan bay, indonesia in response to coastal development. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.533197
Kristiningrum, R., Lahjie, A. M., Masjaya, Syahrir Yusuf, Ruslim, Y., & Amir Ma’ruf. (2020). Fauna diversity, production potential and total economic value of mangrove ecosystems in Mentawir Village, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 21(5). https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d210522
Kurniawan, S. B., Imron, M. F., Roziqin, A., Pambudi, D. S. A., Alfanda, B. D., Ahmad, M. M., Khoirunnisa, F., Mahmudah, R. A., Barakwan, R. A., Jusoh, H. H. W., & Juahir, H. (2024). Cases of oil spills in the Indonesian coastal area: Ecological impacts, health risk assessment, and mitigation strategies. In Regional Studies in Marine Science (Vol. 79). Elsevier B.V. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103835
Latifa, Z. A. (2020). Napak Tilas Ekspedisi Maritim Lawalata IPB University. Biodiversity Warriors. https://biodiversitywarriors.kehati.or.id/artikel/napak-tilas-ekspedisi-maritim-lawalata-ipb-university/
Lestari, F., Setyowati, D. L., Muzanni, A., Kadir, A., Zainal, I., Adolf Liku, J. E., Zulfikar, A. K., Sari, I. P., Mulya, W., Yuliana, L., Zulfikar, I., Rusba, K., Nurmayanti, I., Susanti, I. T., Sakina, C., Yusvalina, H. A., Adiwibowo, A., Ramadhan, N. A., Andani, S., … Cruz, A. M. (2023). Industrial and Environmental Disaster Risk Assessment for Hazardous Materials in Balikpapan City, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129430
Malakar, K. D., Kumar, M., Anand, S., & Kuzur, G. (2023). Climate, climate change ecology, and socio-ecological environments. In Climate Change and Socio-Ecological Transformation: Vulnerability and Sustainability (pp. 29-116). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4390-6_2
Marine Mammal Commission. (2022). Deepwater Horizon oil spill and marine mammals. Marine Mammal Commission. https://www.mmc.gov/priority-topics/offshore-energy-development-and-marine-mammals/gulf-of-mexico-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-and-marine-mammals/
Marine Mammal Commission. (2023). At-sea surveys for abundance and distribution of marine mammals. Marine Mammal Commission. https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/2023/07/big-eyes-looking-out-birds-and-marine-mammals
Michael, P. E., Hixson, K. M., Haney, J. C., Satgé, Y. G., Gleason, J. S., & Jodice, P. G. (2022). Seabird vulnerability to oil: Exposure potential, sensitivity, and uncertainty in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 880750. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.880750
Miller, T., G., Spoolman., E. , S., (2018). Living in The Environment. Cengage Learning.
Navarro, J., & Caipang, C. M. (2024). Bioremediation of oil spills: Current status, challenges, and future prospects. Journal of microbiology, biotechnology and food sciences, 13(6), e10450-e10450. https://doi.org/10.55251/jmbfs.10450
Ningsih, E. S. (2024). Mengadaptasi Keadilan Lingkungan dan DPSIR untuk Mengatasi Dampak Lingkungan Terhadap Perikanan Tangkap di Lahan Basah. Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Kelautan dan Perikanan, 19(1), 13-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.15578/jsekp.v19i1.13350
NOAA. (2023). How oil harms animals and plants in marine environments. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/
Ogwu, M. C., Ojo, A. O., & Alaka, A. C. (2025). Biodiversity and Human Health: The Interconnections of Species Loss and Ecosystem Services. In Innovative Approaches in Environmental Health Management: Processes, Technologies, and Strategies for a Sustainable Future (pp. 113-141). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-81966-7_5
Oktawati, N. O., Fadilah, A. N., & Saleha, Q. (2022). Dampak Ekonomi Tumpahan Minyak di Teluk Balikpapan pada Pemanfaatan Ekosistem Mangrove di Jenebora Penajam Paser Utara. EnviroScienteae. 18(1), 77–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.20527/es.v18i1.12981
Paton, E., & Haacke, N. (2021). Merging patterns and processes of diffuse pollution in urban watersheds: A connectivity assessment. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water, 8(4), e1525. https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1525
Pete, A. J., Lee, J. G., Benton, M. G., & Bharti, B. (2021). Nano-enhanced bioremediation for oil spills: A review. ACS ES&T Engineering, 1(6), 928-946. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.0c00217
Ramadhan, A., Suryawati, S. H., & Koeshendrajana, S. (2017). Pendekatan Valuasi Ekonomi Untuk Menghitung Dampak Ekonomi Akibat Tumpahan Minyak Di Wilayah Pesisir Dan Laut. Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Kelautan Dan Perikanan, 12(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.15578/jsekp.v12i1.6283
Ritchie, H., Samborska, V., & Roser, M. (2025). Oil Spills. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/oil-spills
Sharma, K., Shah, G., Singhal, K., & Soni, V. (2024). Comprehensive insights into the impact of oil pollution on the environment. In Regional Studies in Marine Science (Vol. 74). Elsevier B.V. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103516
Subramaniam, R. C., Ruwet, M., Boschetti, F., Fielke, S., Fleming, A., Dominguez-Martinez, R. M., ... & Melbourne-Thomas, J. (2023). The socio-ecological resilience and sustainability implications of seafood supply chain disruption. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 33(4), 1129-1154. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-023-09788-1
Suhery, N., Damar, A., & Effendi, H. (2017). Coral Reef Ecosystem Vulnerability Index To Oil Spill: Case Of Pramuka Island And Belanda Island In Seribu Islands. Jurnal Ilmu Dan Teknologi Kelautan Tropis, 9(1), 67–89. https://doi.org/10.29244/jitkt.v9i1.17918
Thakur, A., & Koul, B. (2022). Impact of oil exploration and spillage on marine environments. In Advances in Oil-Water Separation (pp. 115-135). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-89978-9.00018-5
Thiagarajan, C., & Devarajan, Y. (2025). The urgent challenge of ocean pollution: Impacts on marine biodiversity and human health. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 81, 103995. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103995
Widiawan, D. A. (2021). Temporal Distribution and Characteristic Analysis of Oil Spill in Balikpapan Bay. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 925(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/925/1/012063
Willard, K., Aipassa, M. I., Sardjono, M. A., Rujehan, R., Ruslim, Y., & Kristiningrum, R. (2022). Locating the unique biodiversity of Balikpapan Bay as an ecotourism attraction in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 23(5). https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d230512
Zhang, Z., Sun, H., & Guo, Y. (2024). The impact of marine oil spills on the ecosystem. International Journal of Engineering Sciences and Technologies, 2(1), 2958-2857. https://doi.org/10.58531/ijest/2/1/1
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Rihlah Fahiranti Marsyea Wakito, Izzah Aisyah Ridlani
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
