What Causes oil spills?

Barnacles tend to be covered in oil at 2nd seashore in Vancouver after an oil spill from a ship in English Bay.

Oil washed-up on Ambleside coastline in West Vancouver.

Bunker gasoline residue washes on the coastline April 10, 2014 after an oil spill in Vancouver's English Bay.

The Canadian Coast Guard reacts to a bunker fuel spill in Vancouver's English Bay on April 9, 2015.

Liquid wild birds had been reportedly spotted in the beach with greasy feathers, but officials state they flew away before their own health might be checked.

GOLETA, CA - MAY 22: A bird covered in oil develops its wings because it sits on a rock near Refugio State Beach may 22, 2015 in Goleta, Ca. Ca Gov. Jerry Brown declared circumstances of Emergency after over 100, 000 gallons of oil spilled from an abandoned pipeline regarding the land near Refugio State Beach, dispersing over about nine kilometers of beach within hours. The largest oil spill ever in U.S. waters at that time occurred in exactly the same element of the coastline in 1969 in which numerous overseas oil systems is visible, giving birth towards modern-day United states ecological movement. (Picture by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

NORTH PARK, CA - MAY 21: inside handout picture provided by SeaWorld San Diego, a new Ca sea lion is cleaned at SeaWorld hillcrest's Oiled Wildlife Care Center might 21, 2015 in north park, Ca. Your pet ended up being delivered to SeaWorld for rehab after struggling with the oil spill in Santa Barbara. The animal's condition is guarded, once the team consistently keep him hydrated and wash all oil off. (picture by Mike Aguilera/SeaWorld San Diego via Getty photographs)

GOLETA, CA - MAY 20: An octopus lies dead on an oil-covered beach after an oil spill near Refugio State seashore may 20, 2015 north of Goleta, Ca. About 21, 000 gallons spilled from an abandoned pipeline regarding the land near Refugio State Beach, spreading over about four kilometers of beach within hours. The greatest oil spill ever in U.S. oceans during the time occurred in equivalent section of the coastline in which many overseas oil platforms can be seen, pregnancy toward modern-day United states ecological motion. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Photographs)

Personnel and volunteers strive to clean oil off a brown pelican at Overseas Bird save company into the San Pedro section of la, on Friday, May 22, 2015. A broken onshore pipeline in Santa Barbara, Calif., spewed oil down a storm drain and in to the ocean for many hours Tuesday before it was shut down. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Staff members and volunteers strive to clean oil off a brown pelican during the International Bird save company in San Pedro area of la, on Friday, May 22, 2015. A broken onshore pipeline in Santa Barbara, Calif., spewed oil down a storm drain and in to the sea for a number of hours on Tuesday before it absolutely was shut-off. Early toll on wildlife included five oil-covered pelicans, that have been taken in to-be cleansed, officials said. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)