Physical smothering in a long time and toxic components due to the oil spill and oil slick disasters can not only affect directly, very seriously marine creatures, plants and life of other animals but also they pollute the air environment and reduce the health of human. Some activities such as the waterway accidents, the tanker or bilge discharges, and the acts of wanton vandalism are the main causes that pollute the ocean environment. The regulations of many countries such as the prevention of oil spill, reducing maximally the effects of the oil spill, and speeding up the oil spill degradation are to aim at treating and recovering fast, efficiently oil spills and oil slicks. The selection of suitable techniques for oil spill recovery and treatment depends on many factors such as the spilled oil volume, oil type, weather conditions (wind velocity), sea conditions (current velocity and wave height), cost and the fact situations of each country. In this paper, four methods used for oil spill recovery including physical-, chemical-, thermal-, and biodegradation method are introduced. The structure of mechanical devices including booms, skimmers and absorbent materials, the properties of chemicals such as dispersants and solidifies, the methods based on the thermal technologies, the major microorganisms for oil degradation for oil spill recovery, treatment and cleanup are analyzed. Each mentioned method also shows the advantages and disadvantages, as well as its applicability. The selection of suitable method for oil spill recovery purpose on the basis of the available equipment and techniques must be ensure that the collected oil spill volume is the largest, the period of time for recovery process is the shortest, aiming at minimizing the negative effects on the human, marine ecosystem, social economy.

국내에서는 해양오염을 예방하기 위하여 해양오염방지관리인 제도를 운영하고 있다. 2007년 1월 19일 해양환경관리법(법률 제8260호)이 제정되어 2008년 1월 20일부터 시행으로 됨으로써 1977년 제정되어 시행되어 오던 해양오염방지법이 폐지됨에 따라 해양오염방지관리인 교육 제도에도 변화가 생겼다. 주요 개정 내용은 교육훈련기관, 교육훈련과정, 교육훈련대상자, 해양오염방지관리인 업무내용 및 준수사항, 해앙시설의 범위, 교육과목 등이다.