OIL SPILL THREATENS MAURITIAN MARINE
RESERVE
Mauritius has declared a state of emergency after
an oil spill off the coast of Pointe d’Esny threatens
disaster for the island nations fragile marine ecosystem.
At the end of July, the MV Wakashio – a Japanese
Bulk Carrier Vessel ran aground on coral reefs
with four thousands of tonnes of fuel onboard.
By the 6th August, oil began to leak from the vessel,
with approximately a thousand tonnes released
into the protected wetland area, marring the pristine
turquoise waters with streams of black and brown.
Although this oil spill is relatively small compared
to other similar disasters seen across the globe, the
location of the spill is of great concern due to the
massive environmental impact it will have on this
singular marine environment.
Two protected marine ecosystems as well as the
Blue Bay Marine Park reserve are found nearby, all
of which are considered biodiversity hotspots containing
thousands of unique animal and plant species
including the endangered green turtle.
Experts, together with thousands of volunteers
who ignored instruction by local authorities to stay
away, have begun clean-up efforts but it is feared
that the damage already caused will have a longterm
impact on the coral reefs, seagrasses and
surrounding mangroves that make this marine sanctuary
incredibly biodiverse.
This environmental disaster comes after years
of conservation work to protect and preserve these
one of kind reefs and lagoons, which are also a vital
source of income for locals and attract thousands of
visitors to Mauritius each year.
Un vertido amenaza la Reserva marina de
Mauricio
Mauricio ha declarado el estado de emergencia
tras producirse un vertido en la costa de Pointe d’Esny
que podría resultar desastroso para el frágil ecosistema
marino de la isla.
A finales de julio, el Pointe d’Esny, un carguero japonés,
encalló en arrecifes de coral portando cuatro
mil toneladas de fuel.
El 6 de agosto el buque empezó a verter hidrocarburos
y unas mil toneladas llegaron a la zona protegida
de humedales, manchando así, con corrientes
negras y marrones, sus aguas prístinas y turquesas.
Aunque se trata de un vertido de magnitud relativamente
menor en comparación con catástrofes
similares experimentadas en el planeta, existe gran
preocupación debido al impacto medioambiental
que tendrá sobre este singular entorno marino.
En las cercanías existen dos ecosistemas marinos
protegidos además de la Reserva Marina de la Bahía
Azul, estando las tres catalogadas como puntos
clave de biodiversidad por alojar a miles de especies
animales y vegetales entre las cuales se encuentra
la tortuga verde, en peligro de extinción.
Una serie de expertos, junto a miles de voluntarios
que hicieron caso omiso a las recomendaciones
gubernamentales de no aproximarse a la zona, han
emprendido trabajos de limpieza, pero se teme que
14
OTWO 14 / SEPTEMBER 2020