Environment and ecology Tar Balls Context: The Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change has recently issued draft rules to regulate and manage tar balls, aiming to safeguard coastal regions and marine ecosystems from the effects of oil pollution. About Tar Balls Tar balls are small, dark, sticky lumps of degraded oil that are found in oceans, usually formed due to oil spills or natural leakage of crude oil. They are created when crude oil undergoes weathering processes in the sea, including physical, chemical, and biological changes. Ocean currents and waves carry these particles from offshore areas to coastlines. Over time, they become semi-solid or solid masses that wash up on beaches, leading to environmental harm and possible health risks. Their size can vary widely from tiny particles to large lumps as big as a basketball. Tar balls contain harmful substances such as heavy metals, trace elements, and long-lasting organic pollutants. They collect along beaches and can harm marine life. Birds, fish, and animals like sea turtles may accidentally eat them, mistaking them for food. The western coastline, especially from Gujarat to Goa, is highly prone to tar ball accumulation, particularly between April and September.
