PROJECTS OF THE PHIR 4. Policy Coordination and Better Environmental Governance to Prevent any Future Oil Spill Catastrophe. This was is a project of the Institute under its ESC Rights Promotion Program. Context The biggest ever environmental disaster in the history of the Pakistan: Tasman Spirit, carrying 67,000 metric tonnes of crude oil for Pakistan Oil Refinery Co. Ltd, failed to sail smoothly through the channel towards the port on July 27,2003. It got grounded near Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and split into two on August 14, causing a huge quantity of oil to spill into the open sea and the worst is that the rescue operations also failed. Quantum of the Spill:
To put things into perspective, in the most famous oil spill of them all, the Exxon Valdez diasaster, 38,800 metric tonnes of oil was spilled. In Karachi, 12,000 tonnes have already been spilled and with 35,000 still on the ship this has the potential to be a major disaster. In the Exxon Valdez spill, 38,000 tonnes coverd approximately 1,300 miles of shoreline. 12,000 tonnes by that math works out to be 412 miles of shoreline. Despite spending 2.1 billion dollars cleaning up the spill, 14 years after the disaster the oil still lingers. Irresponsible attitude of the concerned Authorities By any standards, that is a huge disaster, yet somehow the concerned authorities keep putting out statements like: worst is over and there will be no more oil spill from the stranded oil tanker Tasman Spirit. The Tasman Spirit has finally broken up as predicted by the experts, but the concerned authorities said once again that the oil spill is not going to threaten the coastal areas. This catastrophe is multi-dimensioned: This is an ecological, environmental and economic disaster. Oil spillage always has a long term and short term effect." Maritime experts say 12,000 metric tons of oil have spilled into the Arabian Sea while another 35,000 are still on board the Greek-registered Tasman Spirit. Environmental Threats For the environmentalists from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature or IUCN and other known groups, a more serious issue is the protection of marine life. They say although some dead fish have been washed ashore, it is still not clear how many have been affected. "We are more worried about mangrove forests, which are coming under a direct threat," says IUCN representative. Ecological Damage Eyewitnesses say hundreds of fish and turtles are lying dead on the beaches. Out of nearly 64,000 hectares of eastern coast area, nearly 60% have well-developed mangroves. The fear is that a slight change in the wind direction may push the floating oil towards the main mangrove forests. "If this happens, it will be a disaster of a very high magnitude",
A marine biologist who teaches at the University of Karachi said, "The oil spill will coat the skin of animals, including fish, and they will be suffocated." She cautioned, "The market value of shrimp will be reduced. The reproductive system of marine species will be affected and egg laying of fish will be delayed." She further stated, "Feathers of birds will become heavier and they will find it difficult to fly and will. Human Health A neurologist at a Karachi hospital, told the Associated Press that exposure to crude oil "may cause nausea, headaches and throat infections". The residents of the affected beach area have been plagued with the smell of crude oil and fumes, which when inhaled are injurious to human health. Headaches, nausea, irritation of the eyes and infections of the throat are being experienced by the people in the vicinity of the spill. They anticipate a host of problems and diseases as the uncontrolled spillage spreads inland via the coastal creeks. Contaminated marine fish and shellfish will pose a significant health hazard if consumed. Experts say that people should avoid going close to the area due to the strong hydrocarbon fumes that are irritants of the skin and the respiratory tract. Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has advised people to avoid eating seafood for at least a month. Asthma patients have been told to take extra precautions. "The health hazards are already being noticed as many people are already complaining of infections," says Dr. Habibur Rehman Soomro, Secretary of PMA, Karachi chapter. "People are complaining of eye infections, sore throats, allergies and other such complications after the oil spill," Economic Since oil started to the hit the beach, it has remained closed to the public, and paramilitary troops with protective masks are seen stopping people from going near the water. This spill has effected a beach which in the last couple of years had become the favourite spot for the early morning walking and jogging, and for revilers from all over the city. The government had spent millions on its development, which has all gone to waste. The extensive pollution of marine waters would also jeopardize boating, fishing and some industrial activities along this section of the coast, which are dependent upon clean sea water for cooling purposes. Pakistan exports fish and prawn to the tune of $125 million per annum on an average, significantly contributing to the exchequer in terms of foreign exchange. The fisheries sector had to bear the brunt for several years in the recent past when the European Union imposed a ban claiming Pakistani seafood was not up to the EUs standardization. The fisheries sector fears the EU may impose a ban again. The most affected people from the spill are tens of thousands of small fishermen whose livelihoods are threatened. The authorities have imposed a ban on fishing in the Clifton "Pakistan has no capacity to cope with an oil spill, minor or major, or with any kind of shipping accident with environmental consequences," says The Pakistan National Conservation Strategy, a document prepared by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in collaboration with the government of Pakistan several years ago. "The shipping lanes in the Arabian Sea are some of the busiest in the world, and it is fortunate that Pakistan has not experienced a spill greater than that of 'Akbar’, an oil barge that sank and discharged 700 tons of crude oil in 1984," it said. "The indiscriminate spray of chemical dispersant also has a side effect on marine life and it has been observed that the ecosystem will be disturbed. It is also injurious for the health of the local population," he said. Surprisingly, the KPT is requesting an account payment of $200,000 to initially cover the necessary costs and would assess the actual costs later. According to press reports, an International Maritime Organization (IMO) representative stated that under the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Production Damage (CLC), the claim is limited to "Special Drawing Rights (SDR) 3 million plus SDR 400 per gross tonnage (GT) in excess of 5,000." According to Captain Rafi Ahmed, a master mariner, at GT 44,116 and current SDR equivalent to US$1.39133, this amounts to $27,031,789 (about $27 million), which he terms as "peanuts." "It appears that the only claims being pressed for are the clean-up costs. The owner was also supposed to arrive to negotiate the claims. But what about the losses in the fishing industry, the ecological damage to the mangrove forestry and the physical damage to the seashore residents due to respiratory and eye irritations caused by the fumes of the pollution? After all, how did such damages in other tanker disasters in other parts of the world amount to a couple of hundred million to some billion dollars in the past and that too, a few decades ago?" he asked. Elaborating, he said the 116,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) Torrey Canyon grounded at Land's End, Britain, in April 1967. "I remember the total claims for this incident were $350 million." He further said, "The 35,000 DWT tanker Exxon Valdez grounded at Prince William Sound, Newfoundland, in March 1989, and about $5 billion was paid out against claims of over $15 billion." All dimensions of the problem have long term and short term effects: The long-term Effects The animals and birds are harmed many years after the event, According to some scientists, animals are still suffering nearly 12 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska. Although It was not the world's largest oil spill but is widely regarded as the worst in terms of damage to the environment. In the long term, the mangrove soil composition will change, forcing fish and turtles to move to other natural habitats, The Short-Term Effects According to the environmentalists as the 'Mangrove Man', this is worst ever disaster in Karachi's history which will have adverse effect on the marine life along the coast in the short as well as in the long term. "In the short term, you'll see dead fish and other sea animals washed on to the shores; nearby mangrove forests will be damaged and the health of people living close to the sea will be affected. Effected Areas by the Oil Spill Initial Observations of the experts about the damage caused by the spill.
Physical condition: No traces of the oil spill were found in this region, leaving the physiography of the coast intact. Biological condition: Biodiversity in this region of the coastline is still safe from the oil spill The Mangrove forest found in the back waters of the beach have not been affected by oil spill so far. Only one specie of mangroves known as the Avicennia marina is found here. Moreover a number of marine invertebrates that play a significant role in the food chain by maintaining estuarine fisheries including Coelentrates, Annelids, Crustaceans and mollusks have not been affected. Sandspit/Hawkesbay is a globally important site for marine turtle nesting. Globally there are seven species of marine turtles and all classified as 'endangered'. Two such species, the Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) nest along the Sandspit-Hawkesbay beach. The nesting habitat is concentrated along the 5 ½ km stretch of the sandy beach. The marine turtles currently face no threat as the Sandspit/Hawkesbay nesting beach is for the time being safe from the oil spill. No evidence of the oil spill has been found on the turtle population. During the monitoring period, approx. 95 to 111 green turtles were found nesting on the beach and no mark of oil was seen on the visiting turtles. This area is also an important roosting, feeding and staging ground for water birds. No affect on the bird population of the area was reported. Bird migration from the Central Asian Republics and Siberia has started and 1000 water birds including Plovers, Curlew, Whimbrel, Redshank have been observed during the monitoring. Physical condition: The physiography of the sandy coastline of this region has been completely affected by oil contamination. The sand is covered with a film of crude oil up to the high water mark. On 13th August, an oil deposit of 4 to 5 cm thick was found on the beach. Subsequently a thin layer of oil was found at certain places on 21st August. The crude oil being washed up from the spill has penetrated in the soil inter tidal zone (low tide mark to high tide mark) up to 45 cm. The mixing of the oil with the sand particles has increased the anaerobic condition for the soil fauna. Biological condition:
The oil slick is a posing threat to the plankton forms of life in the sea as the oil deposits are hindering their reestablishment which plays a vital role at the primary level of the food chain. The areas along the Clifton beach support a variety of marine benthic fauna and flora. Due to regular disturbances from picnickers and development activities, the faunal biodiversity is already facing gradual depletion. Clifton Beach is the habitat of the Dentalium - a gastropod shell and the razor clam - bivalve shell, which have seen extinction. The oil spill is harmful for the remaining population of these shells. The film of crude oil is an immediate threat to the foraging grounds of migratory birds and marine life. Clifton beach is an important foraging ground for 75 species of water birds following a hierarchy of 14 families and 6 orders, which arrive here in August and migrate back to the Central Asian Republics and Siberia in April - May. Majority of them found here are waders or shorebirds such as Oystercatcher, Avocet, Stilt, Plovers, Whimbrel, Curlew, Dodwit, Sandpipers, Shanks, Turnstone, Stint, Knot, Dunlin and Sanderling. Moreover, the shore birds such as, egrets, herons, gulls, terns, flamingos are commonly observed at the Clifton beach. Rare water birds like Velvet Scoter and Red breasted Merganser have also been seen in this area. In recent years, no evidence of any water bird breeding has been found. The visiting migratory birds travel along the Indo-Asian/Central Asian Flyway extending from the breeding grounds in Central Asia, into the Indian sub-continent through the Himalayas. The shore birds feed in the inter tidal area, particularly during low tide or when the tide is receding making it is easy for them to capture their prey. These birds take food either from the surface of the sand or probe into the sand substrate by inserting their bill into the sediment. Food available for them at Clifton beach include mollusks-bivalves, gastropods; crustaceans-crabs and shrimps; annelids-polychaetes; arthropods-aquatic insects. Whereas, water birds like egrets, herons, gulls, terns prey on fish. Unfortunately oil has spread over the feeding grounds of these birds penetrating up to 30 to 45cm in the sand. The loss of food and feeding ground for these birds is a source of concern. Existence of meio-fauna is not possible in this scenario due to the deep penetration of oil. The bird Wader was not seen in the oil affected areas and is reported to have moved towards the creek by observations of the monitoring team on the 20th and 21st August. No dead bird has been observed so far. As the migratory season has just started, there is a possibility that very few water birds will be seen in the coming days. Among marine animals a finless porpoise which is already endangered was found dead at the Sea view beach. Black Kites and crows were found feeding on dead fish belonging to different groups such as mugils, ladyfish, catfish, flatfish, eel, skates etc and garbage accumulated on the Clifton beach. Although marine turtles are not found in the east of Manora, yet three turtles (one alive and two dead) were observed at the Clifton beach. On the 15th and 21st August, a dead Olive Ridley was found at the beach. While on 20th August, an Olive Ridley turtle visited the beach near SeaView around 2 o'clock noon coated with crude oil and photographed by a journalist from AFP which appeared in the Daily Dawn on 21st August. The cause of turtle mortality in this area could not be ascertained. Dead fish has been seen during the monitoring visit from 13th to 21st August 2003. They belong to different groups such as mugils, lady fish, cat fish, flat fish, eel, skates etc. In one feet of quadrant, four to five small sized (10-15 cm) dead fish were found. Skate and rays were also less in numbers. This is the end of breeding season for fish and shrimps along the Karachi coastline. The shelf area along the coastline is a feeding ground for the juvenile and other small fish. On 13th August 2003, no crab was seen but on the 18th August, a ghost crab was observed to be making holes and mounds on the black sand. On 20th August, 6 large sized pistol shrimps were seen on the exposed affected area. The same condition was found with hermit crab and other crab species. Nine different varieties of mollusks were found dead in large quantities. The specimens have been collected and will be identified soon. Polychaetes, Amphipods and Isopods were not seen or found due to the heavy deposition of oil slick. Region III: Ibrahim Hyderi - Korangi creek to Rehri No visible adverse impact on the biodiversity of this part of the coastline was observed. Due to high oil contamination at the Clifton and Seaview beaches, the migratory birds have started coming towards this part of the coast, in search for a substitute foraging ground. On 21st August, a flock of 72 birds namely the Curlew, Whimbrel, Blacktailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Stints and Egrets was spotted in this area. Micro and Meio fauna present here is still intact. The only evidence observed of the oil spill was dead fish being dried by the local fishermen to be used as fertilizer. The fishermen of Gizri and Baba Bhit islands are unable to carry out their fishing activities. Due to the oil spillage the fishermen have reported damage to their fishing nets adding further hindrance to them to resume their activities. The livelihood of fisherfolk in the area has been directly affected as the fishing season starts in August along the coastline of Karachi. Clifton and the adjoining beaches are a favorite recreational outing for Karachities. Since the last two weeks people have stopped coming here, directly affecting the livelihood of vendors and camel owners along the coastline. Objectives of the Project : As the crisis unfolds that there are different organisations involved in various aspects of the fall out from this incident, there is a vital need to designate a single individual and institution that possess the necessary technical expertise and correct information about this matter to serve as the sole official spokesman and source of data, responsibility for this incident must be clearly identified so that accountability of individuals and organisations may be impartially enforced. The analysis of the circumstances and the consequences of the oil spill off the coast of Karachi by the oil tanker Tasman Spirit. The assessment of the impact of the oil spill. As well as development of a rehabilitation plan. After a comprehensive analysis of the situation, a specific actions for the remedy of situation as well as dealing with any such emergency in the future is much needed. Who is Responsible? Every concerned authority , person or and enterprise is not willing to accept its liability , instead ,either suing or blaming others as responsible for this catistrophe. In this process a seriese of complex litigation has been initiated which will further complicate the issue. In this legal row , there is likelihood that the actual culprit will run Scot free . Like all the other aspects of this problem it is equally important , if not less, to point out the person , authority or corporation who is actually and legally liable for this “ crime” which has caused a sort of localized humanitarian crisis. Following stand points of different authorities are worth noticing: The Karachi Port Trust Authorities have filed a suit of $ 1 billion against the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNS), which has in turn sued the owner of the broken Greek vessel Tasman Spirit. It has been reported that PNS will also face claims made by other concerned authorities, including the Fisheries Department and Environmental Protection Agency. According to the Communications Minister, Senator Ahmad Ali, an investigation of the oil spill has been initiated with the help of the country's top maritime experts and the report will be submitted to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The Pakistan govt. is now planning to fine the Greek shipowner for polluting the Karachi harbour. That is all well and good, but in the end the blame lies with the govt. as it was a state run organization, the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, which leased this decript tanker in the first place. The EU and the US had both banned it from their waters, so the PNSC must have had known that this ship wasn’t exactly in the best of shape. The most ridiculous thing is that the Karachi Port Trust wants to fine the owners all of 173,100 dollars. This only just emphasizes the fact that these people seem to have no concept of the work, money and time involved in cleaning up a oil spill. This being Pakistan, the accident seems to have been beacuse of pilot error compounded with the fact that the port authorities never bothered to dredge the channel, so a slight deviation from the center of the channel casued the Tasmin Spirit to run into a unmarked shallow patch. Carrying on with the best traditions of incompetence, they only attempted once to reloat the ship over the next 10 days with a single tug, despite the fact that 4 powerful ones were available at the port 10 minutes away. It seems the PNSC illegally leased the ship in the first place as by Pakistani law it can’t use a ship older than 15 years, and the ship has to be double hulled. Not only that, they are apparently paying far more then the international rate. Govt. ineptitude and corruption is the norm, but this goes way above and beyond, as the consequences are going to be around for many years. Pakistan has lodged a formal complaint with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), claiming damages from the owner of the Greek tanker. The official says the final claim will be submitted after the full assessment of the losses. "KPT officials are not open about this disaster and are in fact holding back information," complains Dr. Ejaz Ahmed, Deputy Director at WWF's Karachi office. Tahir Qureshi, Director of Ecosystem Unit at IUCN's Sindh programme office while talking to TNS. "The salvage operation was slow and failed to deliver any results. It's really sad that we are witnessing one of the worst environmental disasters at the Karachi's coast." KPT has already conveyed to owner that removal of wrecks should be done with every caution and by competitive firms of international repute. Meanwhile, crude oil tanker Endeavour II, having about 39,000 tonnes of crude oil transferred from Tasman Spirit has been detained at Berth N0-5 on the order of Sindh High Court on the admiralty case filed bysix local insurance companies led by Central Insurance Co for damaging/quality and quantity issue of crude oil imported by National Refinery Ltd. The Endeavour II wanted to leave the port in a situation when the insurance companies of the cargo, charter of Tasman and other stakeholders were in process to file their claims. The Greece-based salvor said it was obligated under its contract, which includes Scopic responsibilities, to fully prepare for removing the wreck and it also had other cutting and lifting equipment on the way. According to Mr Mitchell, Tsavliris will be a contender for the wreck contract. The club's remarks contrast starkly with a wave of criticism in Pakistan in recent days, in which unnamed officials have attacked the spill response by shipowners and insurers as insufficient. The American Club may face a Karachi Port Trust damages claim for up to $1bn which has been served on the shipowning company. Further fuel was poured on local discontent at the weekend when the University of Alaska environmental expert Richard Steiner advised the authorities to claim more damages for the spill. Dr Steiner, who was closely involved with the Exxon Valdez spill case a decade ago, was quoted as saying on a local news programme that the $1bn target was "nothing and not even a slap on the wrist of the insurer." At the same time, it has been confirmed that a court in Karachi has issued arrest orders for both the wreck and another Polembros-controlled aframax tanker, Endeavour II, which has been used to receive the recovered cargo. The arrests have reportedly warranted on behalf of six cargo underwriting companies claiming a total of about $15m, although the club said it had not seen the orders. Endeavour II is also entered with the American Club. Karachi Port Trust (KPT) said, this afternoon, that PN&I Club has appointed Messrs Smit of Rotterdam to conduct pre-job survey for the removal of sunken parts of crude oil tanker Tasman Spirit from the mouth of harbour channel at the earliest insurer apparently is not satisfied with the pace and performance of ongoing operation and wants to have second opinion by hiring Smit. Cargo underwriters comprising six insurance companies have moved the court, and arrest warrants are said to have been served on crude oil tanker Tasman Spiritand crude oil tanker Endeavour-II owners. Information gathered from market sources suggests that cargo underwriters have filed Admiralty Suit No 20 of 2003, claiming about $ 15 million against defendant Asimina Maritime Limited of Valetta, Malta. the Captain of Endeavour-II had sought clearance from Karachi Port Trust to sail back as it had planned to offload and sell the lighterage crude oil at Al-Fujarah in United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the money earned would be charged as expenses on various accounts. But the KPT turned down the request, saying that the oil tanker did not pay the port dues for occupying the berth during the lighterage operation. The KPT has claimed its stake in the recovered crude oil from the broken vessel as it had utilised financial resources on lighterage, salvage, spraying, sea and beach cleaning operations. According to Customs Rules and Regulations, the cargo of any nature whether bulk, break bulk, container or liquid, manifested in Import General Manifest (IGM) for any destination in Pakistan can not be re-exported or brought back to any other international destination without permission of the competent authority. Over 28,000 tonnes of oil was spilled from the vessel, and KPT has issued a notice the owner through Pakistan National Shipping Corp, the then shipping agent of Asimina Maritime Ltd of Malta for compensation under the charter clause. Meanwhile, the seven crew members of Tasman Spirit, including the master and the first and second officers, are sill in Karachi and will appear before three ongoing enquiries being conducted by Malta Marine Authority, the Principal Officer of the Mercantile Marine Department of Pakistan and the Director General of the Ministry of Communication's Ports & Shipping Office. A quantity of over 28,000 tonnes was leaked during the whole operations. As a result, KPT had issued a notice to the owner, through Pakistan National Shipping Corp (PNSC), the then shipping agent of Asimina Maritime Ltd of Malta, for compensation under charter clause. the provincial Environment Minister, Faisal Malik, said that ridding Karachi's beaches of crude oil could take three years or more. The Karachi Port Trust is suing the Pakistani National Shipping Corporation, which chartered the tanker, for a sum of $1bn. Karachi Port Trust (KPT) under ministry of communication government of Pakistan today has served a one billion dollar notice to Asimina Maritime Ltd of Malta, the owner of crude oil tanker Tasman Spirit through their shipping agent-Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC). The KPT although did not provide berth facility to ill-fated vessel but will file suite separately for services it rendered for lighterage operation and beach clean up operations. On the occasion, Capt. Anwar Shah, Director General Shipping and Port who also in charge for conducting enquiry to the cause of grounding of vessel said that London based P & I Club the insurer of vessel would be liable to compensate, the litigation may take a number of years. the master and others had been asked to stay in Pakistan until they complete their investigations. Five Greeks, including the master, and 20 Filipinos are involved. Brig Arshad said the crew had not been detained and were being well looked after. Joe Hughes, chief executive of Shipowners Claims Bureau, management company for American P&I Club, said it was too early to say how liability claims would emerge, but they would be well within the club's capability, as it was fully reinsured within the International Group of P&I Clubs, and in its own retention. Mr Hughes said there had been excellent co-operation between all interested parties, including the authorities in Karachi. Polembros is expected to be reimbursed by the mutual for a $200,000 fine already imposed. The spill is said to be threatening seafood exports from Pakistan. Hull insurance for Tasman Spirit is reported to have been placed substantially in the Italian market, with some reinsurance or co-insurance in the London market and led at Lloyd's. Insured value of the hull is believed to be in the region of $6m. Six Pakistan-based insurance companies are likely to suffer a loss of about Rs40 million and Rs45 million on account of the oil spill from crude oil tanker Tasman Spirit but international insurers will have to pick up 90% of the cumulative loss, amounting to between Rs350 million and Rs400 million. Pressure is expected to mount on Karachi Port Trust (KPT) next week when oil recovery operations are over and the ship will have to be dismantled before being towed ashore in pieces. "International surveyors will demand (an exact) measurement of silting levels in the port's sea access channel," an insurance operator, said today. International surveyors may blame high silting level of the sea access channel for the mishap and may try to pass on the responsibility to KPT authorities. "Agreed that Tasman Spirit is 24 years old and is a single- hull ship but the Greek contractor Tsavliris Russ and his international insurers and reinsurers have a very high stake and will (try to) pass on the responsibility to others for this mishap," he said. The insurance executive said international insurance surveyors may ask the KPT authorities to inform them when the last dredging was carried out at the port and how was it monitored. "Is there any system to monitor silting at Karachi port," he said. The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation is now being blamed for chartering a single-hull oil tanker. The KPT is being charge-sheeted for allowing this ship to enter the berth. Sources say that the master of one of the two tugs that towed the ship from the outer anchorage to the channel had warned about the impending mishap. It had gone unheeded. But the six Pakistan-based insurance companies that had booked a marine insurance of the crude oil worth about Rs800 million are relatively better placed as 90% of their business passed on to reputed international reinsurers in Japan, Switzerland and Germany. Port officials said earlier that the vessel ran aground near the port after monsoon rains and high tides caused it to drift into one of the port's channels. The crude was to be delivered to Pakistan Refinery Ltd,
Pakistan has filed a claim for US$1 billion in damages from the owners of the Tasman Spirit,
Communication Minister Ahmed Ali said the US$1 billion claim would be made through the Pakistan National Shipping Corp, the charterers of the stricken tanker, to the owners of the stricken tanker. Most reports say the owners are Greek company Polembros, while some say the Tasman Spirit is owned by Malta-based Assimina Maritime Ltd. Chairman of the Karachi Port Trust, Ahmed Hayat, said the owners of the Tasman Spirit would be fined just under $200,000 for polluting the sea. What is the actual Damages? The exact loss will be estimated in the coming days as there is little information available on the quality of oil that has spilled from the ship and the chemical being used in aerial spray in the cleaning up operation, The beaches of Clifton and Seaview are badly affected. Puddles of oil on the shoreline, vaporization, strong smell and pungent air-borne fumes are causing a threat to human health. The government insists that the beach will be reopened for visitors in 15 days' time but environmental experts suggest that Clifton beach, now covered with black oily muck and filth, should be closed for at least two months. Issues /Problems Dr. Soomro, who runs a clinic on the Manora island, claims that he has treated many patients particularly from the Machar Colony, a slum of Bengali migrants near beach. "The government must ensure that dead fish does not get to the market." the city government's manpower is not trained for such operations and their efforts may result in further degradation and disturb the sandy structure of the beach.. The oil spill is also taking a heavy toll on the livelihood of local fishermen. Thousands of boats have been docked at the harbour and coastal fishing villages after the provincial fisheries department announced ban on fishing. "It has affected the livelihood of thousands of fishermen immediately, There may be a decline in seafood demand in local as well as international market which will further affect the livelihood of fishermen in the long run. Solution to the Problem
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