Sanchi tanker oil burning. (Photo: Viral Mojo, YouTube/CC BY 3.0)

Worrying oil slick impact on fishery recources

CHINA
Thursday, January 18, 2018, 22:10 (GMT + 9)

There is a growing concern about the consequences of the oil spill produced by the sinking of an Iranian tanker in the East China Sea.

Although marine life faces a high risk of metal contamination, scientists say the impact in not clearly known, as the area suffers depletion of its fish stocks.

Last January 6, The Iranian ship Sanchi, which was carrying about 136,000 tonnes (a million barrels) of light oil, exploded and caught fire due to a collision with a Chinese freighter 160 nautical miles east of Shanghai. The Iranian vessel sank in an area located between China’s Zhejiang province and Japan’s Ryukyu Islands. It is believed that all the crew, made up of 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis, died immediately.

Maritime authorities reported that two oil slicks of 14.8 km and 18.2 km were spotted southwest of the site where the ship collided.

The oil slicks is moving northwards, and covers 58 sq km (22 square miles), while it was a 10 sq km slick last weekend, South China Morning Post reported.

As it light oil, this oil slick is less visible and more soluble, which means it could make a greater impact below the surface.

The State Oceanic Administration informed that it had collected water samples from 19 spill sites, and found water from five sites had petroleum substances at levels exceeding standards.

Greenpeace in East Asia and Japan informed that this is an important spawning area for commercial species, such as the bluefin leatherjacket and swordtip squid. Besides, they warned that the oil may be poisoning  other species such as mackerel, croaker, cuttlefish, herring, shrimp and crabs.

“At this time of year the area is used as a wintering ground by common edible species such as hairtail, yellow croaker, chub mackerel and blue crab. The area is also on the migratory pathway of many marine mammals, such as humpback whales, right whales and grey whales”, Greenpeace said.

He Peimin from Shanghai Ocean University said that water samples are being tested, and more samples are necessary to determine the spill impact with accuracy. In his opinion, the impact may be limited, as the fish stocks have decreased dramatically in the affected area.

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