RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Oil spillage across the Clifton beach poses an environmental threat to marine life besides increasing hurdles for picnickers frequenting the untidy recreational venue, the WWF-Pakistan showed concerns on Tuesday.

It said that the oil slick that has been reported smearing micaceous Clifton beach, where the visitors and those who go on picnic confronted to enjoy the Eid day festivity and reaction.

Showing concerns, it said that oil spillage has spread between the McDonalds and Village Restaurant, which is reportedly spreading beyond Devil Point on the same Clifton Beach.

The WWF-Pakistan termed it not a first such ‘incident’ to plague the coast, saying that oil spillage is reported to grip the city’s most frequented public beach. A similar kind of slick at Sandspit on 20 May 2017 had also alerted all concerned agencies. On a report of the oil spillage, the WWF-Pakistan’s team immediately obtained firsthand information on the spot.

“The weathered oil is now stranded at an intertidal area, mainly accumulating at the high tide watermark, leaving black lines or globs of oil on the beach as the tides ebb,” Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Adviser WWF-Pakistan said

He also said that natural processes including sun, high temperatures, wind, and waves will tend to gradually weather oil in the event as it remains on a beach. “With both physical and chemical changes, asphalt-like “tar balls” are formed that eventually result in the beached oil breaking apart and finally disappearing,” he added.

With a stress, he said that tracking of oil slicks or spills should also be done to ensure that such spills should not spread into sensitive marine habitats and biodiversity hotspots.

“The affected area at Clifton was visited by WWF-Pakistan’s team who reported that the oil is further emulsified that can be seen at the wave break. According to the team, no damage to marine life was noticed except a few dead fishes, which inhabit shallow waters along the coastline,” according to the WWF-Pakistan.

It said, however, there is no fear of mass mortality of fish any more, adding that as it is summer time, hence, no migratory birds, especially waders, were observed in the area. There was fortunately no dead animal observed on the affected beach except a sub-adult green turtle with damaged carcass, which seems to be a bit older whose death cannot be attributed to the oil slick.

It emerged that the oil slick has not widely covered the seaward direction as and is restricted within intertidal area. “The oil has already weathered and is emulsified. Now the spill is in advance process of dilution and does not seem to pose any immediate threat to the marine fauna and flora. However, the people visiting the beach should avoid going there until the water becomes completely free from slick,” it said.

It is likely that the oil slick has been developed due to release of oil from oil-reception facilities or has leaked from a ship passing by the area. The oil is ultimately pushed by high monsoon winds and currents finally making its way to the sandy beach at Clifton.

Regional Head of WWF-Pakistan for Sindh & Balochistan, Dr Babar Khan said that there is no immediate threat to turtle beach as the wind and wave circulation pattern from west to east is presently under the influence of a south-westerly monsoon.

However, WWF-Pakistan would caution that there is a need to monitor the affected and adjoining areas. The beaching of the present oil slick at Clifton and earlier at Sandspit in May 2017 requires the concerned authorities to be more vigilant and they should strengthen the mitigation measures, he said.

“Finger prints should also be used to know the source of present and previous oil slicks so that necessary measures are taken in time to avoid future disasters. ‘Containment and removal of oil spills is also required so that marine ecosystem including rare and unique aquatic fauna, physical infrastructure and people visiting such beaches are safe and secure”, he urged.

It is also learnt that National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and Karachi Port Trust (KPT) teams have already taken samples from the affected area and WWF-Pakistan is coordinating with them.