WORLD’S SEVEN SEAS

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 100, 1 May 1935, Page 10

WORLD’S SEVEN SEAS

GiiTiid Cnean-Kp Planned

POLLUTION BY OIL

. clcan-np of tne Seven tieaa is under way. This is good news for ail (lie sea birds, fish, and other dwellers of the deep which for years have suffered from tlio pollution of the seas by oil discharge from ships. Since the advent of oil, states the “Christian Science Monitor," the maritime nations of the world have been fighting a losing battle against the ever-increasing pollution of their coastal waters by ships burning or carrying oil. Each nation has tried to protect itself by enacting legislation forbidding oil discharge in its own territorial waters, which usually extend sonio three miles from the mainland. But tliero are no international regulations further out at sea. An attempt at international agreement was made at Washington in 1920, when fourteen countries met in conference to consider remedies. They agreed voluntarily to set up prescribed areas extending from 50 to 150 miles from their coasts within which no oily matter whatsoever might be discharged. Unfortunately, this convention never came into force.

Since then oil pollution has increased. Therefore, last July the British Government ashed the League of Rations to take up the question as one of international concern. In a recent preliminary survey, a small League Committee of British, American, Japanese, Frencn, Italian, and Banish technical experts agreed that international measures to limit flic oil evil should be devised without delay. The League’s Organisation for Communications and Transit lias endorsed the views of. its experts and preparations for a now international conference are now in han ,;l

DEATHS FROM OIL. Government reports show that eveiy year a large number of sea birds are hilled or injured bv oil. Once their wings become saturated with oil they are unable t 0 fly, swim, or dive, and often perish from slow starvation, injured birds have been seen in places where there is little pollution of tho beach, having presumably met oil some distance from the shore.

Oil is also responsible for tho destruction of fish, particularly shellfish, and of. marine grasses—the staple ■food of fish and birds. Some fish is so tainted with oil as to be inedible when caught. j It is not clear whether oil a fleet 8 fish living at the bottom of tho sea, but it certainly destroys the eggs of such fish when floating near the surface. It also does great harm to herring and mackerel as they come to the surface, usually when young. According to a British Sea Fishery Committee, “crabs, lobsters, shrimps, and prawns are quickly smothered 'and killed bv oil ’’ Oil pollution also causes discomfort to fishermen, spoiling their clothes and boots, and also to bathers. It depre* mates the value of'seaside resorts, damages the paintwork of boats, pollutes piers, quays, promenades, and fishingnets. Finally, it increases the lira hazard through the accumulatioh of oil which has drifted into harbours and cre«ks. At present these oil evils occur almost everywhere. They are found to a serious extent in Britain and the United States. In Japan fisheries have been damaged, particularly shell fisheries. According to the League’s experts, oil pollution has also “jeopardised the cultivation of ediblo seaweed which, forms- one of the most important industries on portions of the coast’’ of Japan. In Italy, sea beaches have been mainly affected, and there is also the danger of fire in some of the harbours. Most of the damage in France has been to fisheries, to seaside Teso>- , “- and bathing stations.

DAMAGE IN CANADA, ' Canada feels the need for interna-* tional co-operation to avoid the danger of damage by fire as well as destruction to summer resorts, fisheries, and bird life. In certain cases, the experts point out, pollution cannot be avoided. Such exceptions occur when oil-carrymg ships are stranded or come into collision, or when oil is poured on tempestuous seas to help ships in distress. The experts are agreed, however, that it should bo possible to avoid unnecessary pollution due to the discharge of “sludge” from oil ships when tlier tanks are cleaned out, as well as oily ballast water and bilge water from ships of all kinds. Efficient separators for separating oil from water are now available. These should be made compulsory for all slaps needing them. They are now cheaper than formerly, and many shipowneis claim that the value of the oil recovered has paid for the cost of the sepal* ators. As the latter take up a fair amount of space, it is also suggested that the usual dues based on tonnage shall not be charged in respect of space rendered unavailable for cargo by their installation.