|
OIL SLICK PUTS SANCCOB ON HIGH ALERT Date: 22 January 2010 SANCCOB, as the principal rehabilitator of oiled seabirds in Southern Africa, is on high alert, due to an oil slick floating in the vicinity of Koeberg. On Friday 22 January Marine and Coastal Management’s Pollution Unit reported that the slick is 200m long and 10m wide and is not being viewed as an immediate threat to the coastline. Despite this they have requested that SANCCOB remains on high alert for oiled birds. On Friday, 15 January 2010, the government patrol aircraft, the Kuswag IX, spotted an oil slick, with a surface area of 400m (long) by 2m (wide), off Koeberg during a routine flight. The slick is being monitored continuously and its current location is about 4 nautical miles west-north-west off Koeberg. Experts are considering the possibility that the source may be the MV Treasure vessel which sank in the vicinity 10 years ago resulting in 19,000 oiled African penguins. Since the oil slick has been reported, conservation workers on Robben Island, Dassen Island and the West Coast National Park, where various seabird breeding colonies are located, have been on high alert, but so far they have not spotted any oiled birds or seen oil washing up on the beaches. Ms. Venessa Strauss, Chief Executive Officer at SANCCOB explains that, “This in itself is interesting as Table Bay area is a major feeding “zone” for all seabirds breeding on Robben Island, Dassen Island and Malgas Island. Because seabirds spend just as much time in the ocean as on land, oil in the ocean and on the beaches of their breeding colonies is a serious threat”. Because of the proximity to these island colonies oil spills occurring in the Table Bay area can be devastating to thousands of African penguins, Cape gannets, various cormorant species and other seabirds. SANCCOB’s actions are being guided by regular updates from Marine and Coastal Management’s Pollution Unit who are closely monitoring the oil slick . If the situation does not improve, relevant action will be taken by the relevant government and conservation bodies mandated to conserve and protect the marine environment. Chronic oil pollution is an ongoing problem along the South African coastline. The oiling of vulnerable seabirds, such as the African penguin, is a major concern to SANCCOB and other conservation organizations working towards saving this species. Recently, SANCCOB partnered with the Environment Canada to present a paper at the Effects of Oil on Wildlife Conference held in Estonia in 2009 in which they presented groundbreaking research which confirmed that in certain instances single sources of chronic oil pollution had affected penguins from colonies spread along the Southern African coastline, suggesting that penguins swim incredible distances to feed at common feeding spots. By analyzing oil collected from seabirds admitted to SANCCOB over the past 6 years, a handful of unique oil sources have been identified and work is underway to plot their locations in order to eradicate them, in order to prevent the continuous pollution of our ocean and the vulnerable creatures that live in it. 
|
.gif "Africa Birds and Birding Magazine")
Birds and Birding news.. 
