Black Sea, Jan 6 – Over 60 marine mammals, including dolphins and porpoises, have been found dead following a devastating oil spill from two aging Russian tankers in the Black Sea. The spill, which occurred on December 15, has sparked environmental concerns as authorities scramble to mitigate its impact.
The disaster began when a storm in the Kerch Strait caused one tanker to sink and another to run aground, releasing an estimated 2,400 tonnes of mazut, a heavy fuel oil, into the sea.
The Delfa Centre, a Russian dolphin rescue and rehabilitation organization, reported 61 cetacean deaths since the spill, with 32 of the fatalities likely linked to the disaster. “Judging by the condition of the bodies, most of these cetaceans died within the first 10 days after the spill,” Delfa said.
The victims include several Azov dolphins, a harbor porpoise species closely related to belugas and narwhals.
Cleanup Efforts Underway
Russia’s emergency ministry stated on Sunday that strong winds and waves had carried oil onto nearby beaches, complicating cleanup operations. Despite the challenges posed by the density of mazut, which does not float on water surfaces, significant efforts have been made:
• 68 kilometers (42 miles) of coastline have been cleaned.
• Hundreds of volunteers have been mobilized to remove contaminated soil along the affected shores of Crimea and Russia’s southern coast.
Environmental Concerns
Mazut, a dense and heavy fuel oil, presents unique challenges for cleanup and poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems. Experts warn of long-term damage to the fragile biodiversity of the Black Sea, emphasizing the need for immediate and sustained efforts to mitigate the spill’s impact.
The spill highlights the risks posed by aging oil tankers and the urgent need for stricter regulations and preventive measures to avoid similar disasters in the future.