ure News 11 - Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society

GIBRALTAR NATURE NEWS
Oil slick at Camp Bay the
day after the storm
that we believe are now being addressed. In
August 2007 the New Flame ran aground off
Europa Point, leading to much controversy and
comments about a failure in communication
between the port authorities of Gibraltar and
Algeciras. The case of the Fedra is still under
investigation, as several officers were arrested
at the time, but there are indications that some
procedures may not have been followed which
may have averted the disaster.
With more and more ships in our waters
and with – some say – increasing likelihood of
storms as climate patterns alter, the risk of further
accidents will increase, at least statistically.
On this occasion the culprit was known, the
authorities responded quickly, and spillage
was not great. But it is essential that the highest
standards be attained, technically, legally
and in enforcement, in such a prominent area
for shipping. It is possibly even more important
that there should be full co-operation with
Gibraltar from the Algeciras Port Authority –
something that has been lacking in the past.
When it comes to the danger to human life,
some of which appear to be endemic to the Bay. and to the environment, questioning of
The Gibraltar Port Authority immediately whether or not Gibraltar has territorial waters,
assumed the responsibility of tackling both the fades into insignificance. The considerable finan-
question of recovery and salvage and the environcial cost and carbon footprint of the rescue operamental
issues. They engaged Oil Spill Response tion must not be forgotten.
Ltd (OSRL), a UK-based oil spill recovery company, But then there is the issue of what remains
which dealt with the oil promptly and as well as behind. It has always been assumed that the
possible under the circumstances. There was full remains of a wreck once they are clean and no
consultation with all stakeholders in Gibraltar, longer a danger to shipping, must be taken away.
including GONHS. In addition, the Environmental Sometimes the action of picking, or dragging
Safety group (ESG) organised a team of 12 volun- wrecks across the sea bed will cause more damage
teers to do further oil clearance in Little Bay and to the environment than leaving it untouched.
Camp Bay.
Clearly it depends on the substrate and on ecolog-
Even the relatively small oil spill put recreical consideration, but in at least some of the cases
ational areas out of bounds for several weeks and in Gibraltar, it would be logical to allow nature to
compromised Gibraltar’s water intake system put- colonise the wreck – much of it has already in the
ting pressure on potable water, which is produced case of the New Flame – rather than risk damage
by desalination of sea water. This was at a time to the natural communities. This is especially so
when the same storms that affected the Fedra had bearing in mind that all three wrecks have taken
all but destroyed the salt water system. This led to place within the boundaries of an official European
much of Gibraltar using potable water to flush
their toilets, at a time
when water conserva-
Union Site of Community Interest.
tion should have
been at its highest.
The danger to
water supplies from a
larger, persistent oil
spill became ominously
obvious.
Accidents do
happen, but three
ships with problems
in such rapid succession
do raise questions.
With the
Samothrakis months
before, the report that
resulted from the official
investigation
raised issues about
procedures. Issues
Polluted shoreline at Camp Bay
Clean-up operation at
Camp Bay
ESG volunteers at
Little Bay
The Fedra 2 days after
the storm
Clean-up operation at
Rosia Bay
Volunteers clearing up
the oil