This article discusses unattributable small-scale marine oil spills, particularly focusing on their environmental and socio-economic impacts in Musandam, Oman. There is a research gap in the literature on unattributable small-scale marine oil spills that reflects the lack of attention paid to these minor yet frequent spills, whose perpetrators invariably escape detection and accountability. The research method combines a literature review with extensive fieldwork, including community mapping, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions, to understand the extent, causes, and challenges of untraceable spills. The findings reveal significant ecological damage, economic losses for local fishers and tourism, and systemic issues of untraceability, limited enforcement, and inadequate compensation mechanisms. The article recommends establishing a regional compensation scheme, deploying advanced detection technologies, improving spill reporting, and fostering regional cooperation to enhance spill traceability, upgrade remediation techniques, and obtain redress for affected communities. These recommendations aim to inform policy actions that mitigate environmental risks and uphold environmental justice in the Arabian Gulf region.

Oil pollution is one of the most conspicuous forms of damage to the marine environment. It can be divided into two categories: large-scale and small-scale spills. Considerable research has been conducted on large-scale spills, including investigations into the damage caused, the methods of remediation employed, the compensation paid, and the reasons for a sharp decrease in the number of major oil spills during the last 20 years. However, very little attention has been paid to small-scale spills, leaving largely unresearched the reasons for their continued occurrence, the damage they cause, and the lack of compensation paid out for them. Because the number of large-scale marine oil spills has greatly reduced in recent years, there may be a perception that the problem of marine oil spills has been broadly brought under control. However, this would be to ignore the issue of small-scale spills, which have not decreased and are causing severe problems in coastal areas. The perpetrators of these small-scale spills are very difficult to identify, so they invariably escape detection and thereby avoid having to pay for the clean-up and damages costs caused by their actions. The main aim of this review paper is to draw attention to the lack of research into this unsatisfactory situation. The paper describes the scale and type of damage caused by small-scale spills; analyzes the problem of identifying unattributable polluters; considers ways of remediating oil spills; and evaluates current procedures for obtaining compensation for clean-up operations. Given the escalating frequency of these small-scale spills and their profound impact on marine ecosystems and vulnerable communities, it is imperative that researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders prioritize the development of effective strategies to address this pressing issue. The time to act is now, as the health of our coastlines and the livelihoods of countless individuals depend on our ability to confront the challenges posed by small-scale oil spills.