Frustration arises again for dive centres andhotels on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates, as the second oil spillin four weeks runs through favourite diving and snorkelling spots, Shark Islandand Martini Rock.
The first spill was never cleaned up or attended toby the Ministry of Environment and clamours from the public and the privatesector were ignored.
during an interview with Divers Down, one of theemployees has said “just 3 weeks after the huge oil spill which hit theKhor Fakkan area on the 20th February, the east coast has once againbeen subject to the irresponsible practices of oil shipping companies.Yesterday, 8th March, sees yet another spill covering the surface ofthe water and sending its stench wafting onto the beaches. The worst hit areaat present is around Shark Island, a popular diving and snorkeling spot, wherewe at Divers Down have noticed a marked decline in the number of black-tip reefsharks sighted in the area since the previous spill.
Our prior attempt to ‘getthings done’ ended in a fiasco. The experts were here, the money was on itsway, and then it all ground to a halt with no action taken by environmentalagencies, government bodies, nothing.”
“Our fellow diverswere more forthcoming; we witnessed an overwhelming response with many offeringtheir services on their days off to come and clean up, offering donations inorder for us to independently move forward with the experts’ cleanup operation,but it was already too late. The oil from the earlier spill has sunk down intothe sand, leaving a black tide mark on the beaches and a light film across therocks and surface of the water.”
Divers Down are not askingfor donations to clean up the spill this time, but for the support of thepublic. they would like to received letters or email showing support and askingfor solutions. They hope to assemble enough responses to make adifference, by putting pressure on certain agencies to stand up, recognize andtake notice of the situation and realize that changes need to be made.
Carla Jeffery
EMAIL US: diversdown@emirates.net.ae
POSTAL ADDRESS: PO BOX 10472,Khor Fakkan, Sharjah, UAE
