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The Sea Alarm Foundation is an initiative by individuals and organisations involved in spills where birds and mammals became oiled, were rescued and had to be rehabilitated. It was generally felt that lessons from passed spills should be learned. Under the umbrella of Sea Alarm constructive steps have been taken to involve those parties with a degree of responsibility during oil spills (including wildlife responders, relevant government agencies, international government and non-governmental organisations [NGOs], and leading parties in industry) in a setting up a strategic programme of action. It is in dialogue with all these parties that Sea Alarm has taken the role of facilitator to improve the state of preparedness throughout Europe.
Objective and mission
The objective of the Sea Alarm Foundation is to facilitate and motivate strategic alliances among Non Governmental Organisations (NGO's), the oil industry and governmental organisations with a common aim to:
1. respond professionally and effectively to oil spills and rehabilitate affected wildlife according to international standards,
2. be prepared for an oil spill emergency as part of the response activity,
3. work towards oil spill prevention.
The mission of Sea Alarm Foundation is to make use of the best professional approaches to oiled wildlife welfare and use the best expertise available and applicable in any oil spill response.
Networking
Sea Alarm Foundation aims at building bridges between marine (oiled) wildlife rehabilitators, industry, governmental organisations and non governmental organisation in order to arrive at effective pre-spill contingency plans and cooperative arrangements at national, regional and international levels. Therefore, Sea Alarm Foundation is building an European cooperative network. At an international level, Sea Alarm supports and cooperates with The International Alliance of Oiled Wildlife Responders.
The European Network
The European Network consists of associated members with a background in marine wildlife rehabilitation, industry, governmental organisations or NGO's. Associated Membership is free and only requires an expression of interest in the activities of Sea Alarm Foundation (see results 2001 Conference report in Library). Therefore it has an open ended character (see Links).
The network operates through e-communication. Once a year, a Sea Alarm Conference is organised which allows Associated Members to come together, discuss progress with the Sea Alarm Board and prioritise the activities for the next year.
The International Alliance of Oiled Wildlife Responders
The International Alliance of Oiled Wildlife Responders ("The Wildlife Alliance") is a worldwide coalition of organisations that aim to professionalise oiled wildlife rehabilitation, e.g. by developing technical standards and forming a "united front". Sea Alarm has been amongst the "founding fathers" of this initiative and is represented in its Board.
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