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Topic: BirdLife: News release from RSPB about oil spills (Read 724 times) |
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BirdLife: News release from RSPB about oil spills
« on: Dec 6th, 2002, 11:20am » |
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Attn BirdLife Network and staff
The latest news release from the RSPB about oil spills follows:
> Thursday 5 December 2002
>
> For how much longer does Europe's environment have to suffer?
>
> The RSPB is today calling for swift action at national and international
> levels to protect birds and other marine wildlife from oil pollution in
> Europe's wildlife-rich waters.
>
> The Society's calls follow the new reports received from Spain that an
> estimated 17,000 oiled birds are being affected by the Prestige disaster,
> off the Galician coast, and the reports of around 600 oiled birds being
> treated in East Anglia.
>
> Sharon Thompson, the RSPB's marine policy officer, said: "Right now there
> are oiled birds dying and suffering on coasts at opposite ends of Europe.
> This must send a signal to national governments and the European Union
> that urgent action is needed. We want the most sensitive marine areas to
> be identified in UK waters, and European laws passed to ensure the
> polluters pay for all their environmental crimes."
>
> ends
>
> For further information and to arrange an interview, please contact:
> Grahame Madge, RSPB press officer, on 01767 681577.
> Out of hours, please telephone: 07702 196902 or page: 07654 344078
>
> Editor's notes
> 1. The recent sinking of the oil tanker Prestige off the Spanish coast
> shows once again the problems which arise when tankers travel through
> environmentally sensitive areas. There are lessons to be learned here for
> the UK. Lord Donaldson's Enquiry, which followed the grounding of the MV
> Braer in Shetland in 1993, recommended the introduction of a network of
> Marine Environment High Risk Areas (MEHRAs) to route dangerous vessels
> (such as single-hulled tankers) away from the UK's most sensitive coastal
> sites and most hazardous shipping areas. After nearly 10 years, we are
> still waiting for a second round of consultations on MEHRAs. The
> Government should move to introduce MEHRAs as quickly as possible to
> prevent a Prestige-type disaster in UK waters.
>
> 2 The RSPB believes that the EU Environmental Liability Directive has
> massive potential to improve the protection of birds and their habitats
> across Europe. This Directive should ensure that operators of potentially
> dangerous activities, not taxpayers, are made fully liable for the costs
> of restoring the environment, when damage occurs. In this way, they are
> given a strong incentive to avoid environmental pollution from the start.
> However, the EU Commission's draft Directive contains many loopholes that
> would let polluters off the hook. The RSPB wants to see all species and
> habitats protected under international, EU and national legislation to be
> included within the scope of the Directive.
> 3. Estimates received today from SEO, the RSPB's partner in Spain,
> suggest that up to 17,000 birds could have been affected by the oil spill.
> 1,200 birds have so far been brought ashore, but eyewitness reports
> suggest there are at least a further 16,000 birds remaining to be picked
> up or rescued.
>
> The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
> * The Lodge * Sandy * Beds SG19 2DL
> Press office telephone 01767 681577
> Website:www.rspb.org.uk
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BirdLife: Prestige update from SEO/BirdLife
« Reply #1 on: Dec 9th, 2002, 11:22pm » |
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Latest news on Prestige oil spill
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Attn BirdLife Network and staff
The latest numbers of birds recovered affected by the Prestige oil spill from SEO/BirdLife are as follows (as of 8th Dec):
866 recovered oiled and dead
700 recovered oiled but still alive
Approximately 40-60 oiled live birds and 60-80 dead oiled birds are being receovered per day.
The spill is now coming ashore in the south of Galicia - SEO/BirdLife report that the recently created Atlantic Islands National Park has been heavily oiled along the coast.
SEO/BirdLife now plan to carry out an analysis of the data and to issue an updated estimate of the total number of birds killed to coincide with 13th December, exactly one month after the Prestige oil spill started.
That's all for now
Michael Szabo
Communications Manager
BirdLife International
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