Archived press release

Not again! Fishing, Mangroves, Wildlife Threatened by Karachi Oil Spill

13 August 2003

The crews of 18,000 small fishing boats could lose their livelihoods if oil from the grounded tanker, Tasman Spirit, enters the sea off Karachi, Pakistan, said Friends of the Earth today [1]. Mangroves and beaches with breeding turtles and tens of thousands of wintering water birds are also at risk [2].

The Tasman Spirit was carrying 67,500 tonnes of crude oil, of which 19,000 tonnes has apparently been salvaged [3]. The remaining 48,000 tonnes could form an oil spill greater than that released by the infamous Exxon Valdez, if the ship breaks up [4]. Already oil is coming ashore on beaches and dead fish and turtles have been reported.

Friends of the Earth oil campaigner Roger Higman said:

"Yet again, an oil tanker has run aground spilling thousands of tonnes of its toxic cargo into the sea. Yet again, important wildlife habitats are threatened and the livelihoods of local fishermen put at risk. How many times must this happen before action is taken to clean up this unregulated industry?"

Only last month, William 0'Neil, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation urged Governments not to take measures to tackle future spills that "cause or lead to any negative repercussions" [5]

The owners of the Tasman Spirit are the Greek (Liberian registered?) Palembros company. Friends of the Earth has information on the record of this company.

Notes

[1] Husain, S. (2003) "Pakistan fisheries threatened by pollution and over-fishing"

[2] Asian Development Bank/World Conservation Union (2002) "Regional Technical Assistance for Coastal and Marine Management and Poverty Reduction in South Asia: Situation Analysis Report - Pakistan component". This describes the `Karachi Harbour Backwaters' as a "unique backwater coastal ecosystem consisting of wetland and mangrove forest" and says an area 18 km to the south west of Karachi "contains shallow inter-tidal lagoons, inter-tidal mudflats and mangrove swamps that are home to Green and Olive Ridley Turtles and 50,000 wintering water birds.

[3] Yahoo News 14 August 2003: "Oil Spill from Greek Ship Blackens Pakistan Beaches"

[4] See: BBC News 19 November 2002 "Comparing the worst oil spills"

[5] UN News Centre 15 July 2003 "UN Maritime official urges balanced approach to oil tanker regulation"

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust