Rocky coasts
Exposed, steep rocky coasts provide an ideal surface to which large quantities
of oil can stick. They are fairly quickly cleaned by the mechanical effect
of subsequent wave action, and therefore suffer relatively little from oil
spills.
Rocky outcrops, which may
be submersed at high tide or in heavy swell, can be more severely affected,
especially if the outcrop contains rock pools rich in flora and fauna, where
thick layers of oil are likely to accumulate.