This paper reviews the current state of knowledge of the effects that oil pollution has on scleractinian corals. Areview of results obtained in laboratory as well as in field conditions are given and suitable management tools are discussed. Studies made in the 1970s and 1980s presented conflicting results regarding the impacts of oil on coral physiology, but later results confirmed the detrimental effect of oil on corals. The world's coral reefs are severely threatened by an array of factors, one of which is oil pollution. More laboratory and field work with current oils and dispersants is urgently needed in order to update our knowledge in this field and reduce impacts in case of a major oil spill on coral reefs.