If one considers that 3/4 of the planet’s surface is covered by the sea, it is easy to see that the deep blue of the archipelago offers multiple benefits to humanity. Accordingly, a look at our neighborhood highlights the marine environment of Greece which is characterized as one of the most important links in the wider ecosystem.
However, a series of marine pollution incidents in various parts of the country recently have raised both concerns about the resulting damage and questions about how responsibilities and responsibility for cleaning beaches and shores are distributed.
A typical example is the case of marine pollution a few weeks ago in Northwest Ikaria, where the appearance of oil (tars) was recorded on the beaches of Mesakti, Livadi and Spasmata Evdilos. Initially, there were complaints from bathers about foam and black chunks in the water, which eventually washed up along the shorelines at the beaches in question.
A few weeks ago in Northwest Ikaria, the appearance of oil (tars) was recorded on the beaches of Mesakti, Livadi and Spasmata Evdilos
The Municipality of Ikaria, through a post on social media, requested the participation of volunteers in the cleaning, pointing out that “unable to undertake the cleanup with the personnel available today, it calls on those who wish to volunteer to help clean the coast from oil residues (…) to gather at Mesaktis beach (gloves, garbage bags and water will be provided to the volunteers)”. In addition, the municipal authority requested the assistance of those who might have anti-pollution equipment.
Speaking to “Vima”, the deputy mayor of Ikaria Sotiris Kochylas states that he was alerted to the incident by people who were on the beach and noticed the “existence of pieces of tar”.
As he says, “from the moment the remains of the pollution come out, the responsibility passes to the Local Government, while there was no infrastructure to stop it while it was at sea, where the Coast Guard is responsible. If it had been identified earlier, the decontamination process would have been easier.”
With their interventions on social media, many were the ones who spoke of deliberate obstruction on the part of the Coast Guard in order for the pollution to “step ashore” and the responsibility to “change hands”.
For his part, the president of the Port Fund of Ikaria Yannis Sifakis emphasizes that although their own jurisdiction is within the zones of the port facilities, however when they were asked for help, they rushed and provided the equipment they have.
“The point is to have cooperation, because however confusing the responsibilities may be, here we are talking about our island. It would be good if the municipality does not throw the ball of responsibility at us or we at the municipality. Certainly, the local Harbor Station could have detected the pollution earlier. He may not have a boat, but there are boats passing by all the time and he should definitely have been notified.” points out.
However, the issue of marine pollution from boats is not limited to Ikaria, as in recent months there have been incidents in both the Ionian and Aegean Seas. From secluded beaches to busy marinas, quantities of oil have made their appearance, posing yet another problem to the already strained environment.
According to recent data from the Coast Guard, since the beginning of the year incidents have been recorded – among others – in Sivota, Voula, Glyfada, Neo Ikonio, Vlyhada and Thessaloniki and as pointed out “in all cases samples were taken from the area of the pollution and samples of oil products from adjacent ships in order to identify the offenders”.
Fuel on the surface of the sea on the coast of Glyfada
The effects on the environment are multiple
“To Vima” was addressed to Dew Kuchumbaprofessor of Marine Biology and chairman of the Department of Oceanography and Marine Life Sciences of the University of the Aegean.
As he points out “The effects of petroleum hydrocarbon pollution are twofold in terms of the marine environment. It is one thing if it is a small diffusion and another if it is a larger one.
Also, we have different types of petroleum hydrocarbons, so we have different effects on sea life. In the direct effects, due to the toxicity, deaths are caused to organisms either of the pelagic unit, such as cetaceans, dolphins, seabirds or fish, or to organisms that live on the bottom of the sea, such as invertebrates, marine plants, etc.
A second impact and not so immediate is more evident at the bottom with recorded cases where petroleum hydrocarbons can remain for up to 15 years in these areas”.
According to him, “if one concentrates on the habitats, the home of many organisms, for example the posidonias, reefs, caves, etc., one can find that when we have pollution, in addition to killing the organisms themselves, their habitats are also destroyed” .
Finally, the professor underlines that we should not forget that in addition to the deaths of marine animals and organisms, there are also indirect effects.
“It’s a matter of concentration and through the food chain into the bodies of the organisms themselves. For example, who is going to buy fish from an area that is affected and has received oil hydrocarbon pollution? Fishermen, consumers and the ecosystem services ultimately provided by the marine environment are affected. Who would go to an oil spilled beach? Every visitor wants to be in touch with nature. That’s why we’re talking about a multi-level impact.”
Coordination: Angelos Skordas
Written by: George Fokianos
Editor: Panagiotis Sotiris
#Balaki #responsibilities #tars #beaches
