This paper correspond to the third phase of the program "Vigilancia de la Contaminación por petróleo en el Caribe y Regiones Adyacentes" (monitoring of oil pollution in the Caribbean and adjacent regions), CARIPOL/COLOMBIA, studies carried out during 1987 by the Centro de Investigaciones Oceanográfica e Hidrográficas (Oceanographic and Hydrographic Research Center) CIOH which is under organic dependence of the "Dirección General Marítima y Portuaria" (Direction of maritime affairs) DIMAR it also counts whit co-financial support of the Fondo Colombiano de Investigaciones Científicas y Proyectos Especiales "Francisco José de Caldas" (Colombian Scientific Fund Agency) COLCIENCIAS, and the participation of other Caribbean research entities. The data analysis showed that no matter the low values found in comparison with other coastal areas of the world, is significant how activities such us transportation, storage, refining and use of oil and its derivates greatly contribute to gradual rise of the concentration of oil pollution on the Colombian Caribbean coastal ecosystems, specially those procure close to industrial settlements, oil terminals or tankers router; being the Cartagena region the only one that show a visible impact, due to the presence of petrogenic hydrocarbons in its waters, in recent sediment and marine biota, and also the presents of far in the beaches.