A marine oil spill may affect vulnerable species at the population level. The impact can only be assessed if corpses of animals are systematically collected from beaches and taken to laboratories where they can be analyzed. Scientists must play a key role in designing and supervising these activities.

Impact assessment is a specialized area of an oil spill response and is also a new field of expertise for scientists.

Together with leading scientists, Sea Alarm is aiming to organise dedicated training events in which scientists can obtain the necessary background information and develop the skills required to perform an impact assessment.