GALAPAGOS ISLANDS (5 July 2002) -- Another oil spill off the Galapagos Islands is threatening wildlife. Government officials in Ecuador told CDNN more than 20,000 litres of diesel oil spilled into the sea after a fuel barge capsized and sank in heavy seas. The Ecuadorian Navy, the Galapagos National Park and local fishermen have most of the fuel spill under control. In January 2001, the tanker Jessica ran aground and spilled over 1.5 million liters of bunker fuel. Although the tourism industry initially claimed the spill had almost no impact on the fragile and unique Galapagos ecosystem, scientists recently reported that over 15,000 marine iguanas died after their feeding habitat was contaminated. | | Oil contamination killed over 15,000 marine iguanas last year (Go to CDNN news report, "Galapagos marine iguanas devastated by oil spill") © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORKSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
