Foreign ship convicted for dumping rubbish on famous reef, reports SunShineCoastDaily.
Garbage dumping
A foreign shipping company and the chief officer of one of its vessels have been convicted for dumping garbage in the Great Barrier Reef. The reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
A bulk carrier ditched around 120-litre household garbage bins full of food waste into the marine park in 2018.
The vessel was sailing between Brisbane and Gladstone when the chief officer approved the discharge of garbage overboard about 24km southeast of Lady Elliot Island.
Action prosecuted
The action was prosecuted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and the chief officer and company were convicted in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday last week.
Fines against both parties totalled $6600.
AMSA general manager of operations Allan Schwartz said the authority took a zero tolerance approach to shipping pollution.
Zero tolerance approach
“Australians and tourists alike visit Lady Elliot Island to swim with manta rays and turtles – not blended food waste from merchant ships,” Mr Schwartz said.
“These convictions should serve as a reminder to other industry operators that in Australia, we make sure polluters pay.”
Under the Protection of the Sea Act 1983, food waste cannot be discharged within 22km from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park boundary.
It is highly vulnerable and over the past 30 years, has lost half its coral cover, pollution has caused deadly starfish outbreaks and global warming has produced coral bleaching, according to the World Wide Fund For Nature Australia.
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Source: SunShineCoastDaily
