TOLL OF SEABIRDS

Evening Post, Issue 19, 23 July 1934, Page 10

TOLL OF SEABIRDS

SMEAKED WITH OIL

COOK STRAIT AREA

Penguins and other seabirds about Cook Strait have suffered .death in considerablo numbers during tho' past week as a result of their being.smeared with oil evidently discharged by some oil-burning ship or ships in"CobkStrait orcloso to the coast'of: New Zealand; Even the sanctity of Kapiti Island cannot be maintained against disturbance of such a character. It is a case of commerce against Nature and the law.

Although tho conduct of ships and the practice of discharging waste oil is ' subject to sojiie restriction under the provisions of tho Oil In Territorial Waters Act, 1926, both tho Marine Department and the Internal Affairs Department, which latter controls Kapiti Island Sanctuary, aro concerned about the matter of oil discharge. The limit of the restriction, under the New Zealand Act is three miles from low wator mark. It is a moot point, however, whether prosecution would lie against a ship which discharged oil beyond the three-mile.limit, and which oil drifted to New Zealand territorial waters. Would that be construed as "indirectly" discharging oil refuse in Kcw Zealand territory?

The Marine Department informed an "Evening Post" reporter that there was as yet no power to legislate beyond tcriitorial waters. The subject was a problem being considered by means of an International' Convention. Until the convention provides sanction as' tho base no further legislative control can be exercised by New Zealand; or for that matter by any other country. The dangers and nuisances attaching to the discharge of oil are well established as facts throughout the world. Even fish life is affected adversely, since tho oil forms a film on the surfaco over such an area as to prevent fish from getting the oxygen necessary to their existence.

Waste oil-matter discharge . from some oil-burning ships appeared on the coast of Kapiti and the mainland em Tuesday last, Captain' E.- V. • Sanderson informed "The Post." Apparently the oil was discharged in Cook Strait prior to'the southerly wind and swell, which carried the oil northward.

"A heavy toll is being: taken, of seabird life as a consequence," said; Captain Sanderson. • "Several dead peugnins were- noticed on\ Kapiti within a distance of one hundred yards. These wore smeared with oil. Others were in a dying state, and although attempts wcreniade to remove the oil from their bodies all died. Dead oil-besmeared birds arc also to be found, on the Packakariki beach. Most of the oil now lies on the beach, and'penguins arc still meeting it there as they go and come from the water. Other seabirds, besides penguins, will, of course, suffer. This oil discharged is killing thousands of seabirds in various parts of the ■wmld. The only remedy •is -international action compelling steamers . toinstall separators. The oil dis'chargp is a rcsidn" r«spmlVlin«r tnr."