28-07-2010 par Aude BriauxOil pollution, Galéria covered in hydrocarbons

 

Pockets of oil pollution cover the magnificent beaches of Galeria, the small town south of Calvi in upper Corsica, since 12 July.  This pollution endangers numerous protected species in the natural reserve of Scandola, including exceptional biodiversity that are World Heritage listed with Unesco.

The disaster affecting tourist area, Balagne, came from a ship emptying its oil tanks at high seas and therefore is otherwise ignored.

Surfrider Foundation Europe denounces the increasing number of  'orphan' pollutions in the Mediterranean, such as that affecting Galeria today.  In 2008, the Mediterranean maritime authorities named 250 orphan pollutions including 180 hydrocarbon spills.  Last year, there were 190 incidents including 100 hydrocarbon spills counted, all of this without worrying the responsible authorities.

Surfrider Foundation demands an improvement of the methods with which we can detect marine pollution.  This problem was at the heart of our concerns at the European Maritime Day last May, as was already the case through our work with the 'Grenelle de la mer'.

We continue to denounce with vigour the irresponsible attitude of polluting ships and demand as quickly as possible the implementation of effective detection devices.

The small town of Galeria faces today, for the second time in 2 years, a pollution without a name but not without someone responsible.