Dead fish, coral bleaching raise concerns about Papua New Guinea's Milne Bay
by EVAN T. ALLARD @ CDNN - CYBER DIVER News Network
MILNE BAY, Papau New Guinea (2 Mar 2009) — Government officials are alarmed by sightings of dead marine life, especially fish, and bleaching of corals in Milne Bay, a popular scuba destination in Papua New Guinea.
According to reports, the area hit hardest is off Bwagaoia station on Misima Island.
Milne Bay Deputy Governor Gordon Wesley speculated that fish, corals and other marine wildlife may have been killed by a chemical spill from the old Misima mine.
PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) Cmdr Peter Ilau said its CASA aircraft has been redirected to take government environmental experts to Misima Island tomorrow to assess the damage.
Milne Bay is renownedd as one of Papua New Guinea's most popular scuba diving destinations.
Officials in Papua New Ginea suspect a chemical spill may have killed marine life in Milne Bay.
