Oil slick caused by 'sieve breaking'

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A member of the public sent the Mossel Bay Advertiser photographs taken last week, of what he says "appears to be an oil or fuel spill out of Mossel Bay harbour".

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "One can clearly see the slick at sea. One can more clearly see the spillage in the harbour just in front of the green-roofed building."

He said: "For too long we pollute and muck up our rivers and oceans with this type of pollution. There are no fish or shell life left in the bay precisely because of this careless action...."

The man said there should be "an expanded plea to all to look after our rivers and oceans".

He said there was "too much oil and fuel ... the transfer of oils in the bay" and complained that "poorly maintained vessels splurge hydraulic oils and fuels into the harbour". The concerned resident said: "City businesses blatantly spill oil into our water systems, with no grease traps in place."

'Zero tolerance needed'

He said "poisons, sewage and excessive fertilisers are spewed into our rainwater systems daily" and stressed that a zero tolerance attitude and culture should be developed. We also need to look into the saline waste that our desalination plant emits - zero waste should be put back into the sea."

With regards to the slick photographed in the harbour, the Mossel Bay Advertiser contacted TNPA for comment.

It provided a statement, noting: "TNPA investigated the unforeseen incident and discovered that one of its lease tenants, Afro Fishing, had a spillage during its discharge operations from its fish factory."

TNPA noted that a "sieve broke" at night and was replaced on 30 April.

"The lease tenant was immediately requested to clean the fish oil spillage. TNPA further requested the tenant to put additional mitigation measures in place in order to prevent further accidental spillages.

The statement continued: "TNPA remains committed to pro-actively conducting oversight over its port users and tenants, which includes the sustainable conservation of the environment.

"Law also requires port users and tenants to comply with various environmental legislation, by putting mitigating measures in place that will help prevent and mitigate spillages and pollution."

The oil slick in the harbour.

Report pollution

Incidents of pollution can be reported to TNPA via harbour master Vania Cloete (044 604 6304), TNPA Admin Building, 55 Bland Street, Mossel Bay, 6506.

People can also notify the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF): Advocate Tandiswa Jacobs (083 506 9679).

If you would like to report malpractice by a specific company, such as the dumping of grease or oil, contact Sam Bendle, chief: Municipal Health at the Garden Route District Municipality (sam@gardenroute.gov.za). It is the Garden Route District Municipality that deals with health issues such as these, not the Mossel Bay Municipality.