- The impact of the Mauritius oil spill disaster is starting to appear.
- Several marine species including crabs and fishes were dying.
- Now residents of the area woke up to find many dead dolphins.
- The dolphins smelt of bunker fuel and some had shark bites on them.
- Residents of Mauritius furious and angry over the dolphin deaths.
After the recent oil spill disaster from a Japanese bulker in Mauritius, environmentalists were up against shipping companies over the environmental impact of shipping, and the allegations of a cover-up in the incident further fueled it.
The environmental damage of the disaster became clear yesterday when several dolphins ended up dead in Mauritius. A BBC report shows how severe the effect is.
What happened?
At least 17 dead dolphins have been found on the coast of Mauritius, prompting debates about whether a recent oil spill was to blame.
Environmental campaigners say the deaths were either caused by the oil spill from a Japanese-owned ship or by authorities sinking part of the vessel.
- But the fisheries minister said “at first glance” the deaths appeared to be unconnected to the spill.
- He said at least two of the dolphins had shark bites.
- The carcasses are currently undergoing a post-mortem.
It is rare for so many dead dolphins to be found at the same time. Two were found in May 2019.
Other reports of dead marine life
These are the first reported deaths of dolphins since the shipwreck. Up to now, many fish and crabs have been found dead.
Mauritius residents angry
The sight of the dolphins caused anger among residents.
Image copyrightNITIN JEEHA“Waking up this morning to witness so many dead dolphins on our seashore is worse than a nightmare,” resident Nitin Jeeha told the BBC.
“I have seen around eight to 10 dead dolphins. Are there more in the lagoon?”
Although many of the dolphins were found dead, some were discovered weak or dying on the shore.
Was the oil spill to blame?
Environmental activists told the BBC they thought so.
The MV Wakashio ran aground on coral reef on 25 July at Pointe d’Esny, a known sanctuary for rare wildlife.
The area contains wetlands designated as a site of international importance by the Ramsar convention on wetlands.
Oceanographer Vassen Kauppaymuthoo said the dolphins smelled of fuel.
Situation to deteriorate further?
“In my opinion, this situation will continue to deteriorate as time goes on,” he was quoted by local media as saying.
Environmentalist Sunil Dowarkasing said either the oil spill from the bulk carrier or the sinking of its bow last week caused the deaths.
Image copyrightREUTERSHow were dolphins affected?
“The scuttling probably disturbed marine mammals in their natural habitat. There will be after-effects, and this is just the beginning,” Mr Dowarkasing added.
Economic consequences of the oil spill
Greenpeace Africa has warned that “thousands” of animal species are “at risk of drowning in a sea of pollution, with dire consequences for Mauritius’s economy, food security and health”.
But Sudheer Maudhoo, the nation’s fisheries minister, said initial tests on the dolphins indicated that there was no link between the oil spill and their deaths.
He noted that there were shark bites on at least two of the mammals but further tests would be needed to identify the cause.
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Source: BBC
