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Fish, turtle deaths linked to ship: Experts

18 Jun 2021

  • MEPA’s expert committee finds direct link 

  • Causes of deaths: Burns, breathing difficulty, etc.

By Pamodi Waravita   The expert panel which evaluated the damages caused by the MV X-Press Pearl ship has determined that the incident has directly led to the deaths of marine animals which suffered burns, chemical toxicity, and experienced difficulties in breathing. “Investigations into different marine animals take different time periods and methods. The evidence so far shows that there have been fish that have died due to experiencing difficulties in breathing. Certain species of fish like the moray eel which never wash up onshore have beached, dead. Some fish had plastic nurdles (small plastic pellets) in their stomach,” University of Ruhuna Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences and Technology Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Senior Prof. Ruchira Cumaranatunga said at a press conference held yesterday (17). Observations of the turtle deaths have shown that initially they died due to burns but the recent deaths show the turtles with their mouths open, which indicates difficulty in breathing, most likely due to chemical toxicity, said Prof. Cumaranatunga. However, Prof. Cumaranatunga added that investigations into the recent death of a whale in the North of Sri Lanka are still being conducted. Furthermore, the damage to the coral beds are yet to be assessed as it is not yet possible to obtain clear images of the reefs. Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe said that there could also be other causes of deaths (CODs) in the case of marine animals, pertaining to which investigations are still being carried out. The expert panel was convened by the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) and consists of groups assessing the harm caused by chemicals and oil, the environmental impact, waste management, the impact on biodiversity, health, socio-economy and aquatic resources, and economic evaluation, totalling 41 experts from 14 ministries, universities, and other institutions. Commenting on the economic evaluation of the environmental damages that exist across multiple aspects, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Department of Forestry and Environmental Science Professor in Environmental Economics Prasanthi Gunawardene said that the impacts on recreational activities, human health, and nutrition, and other long-term impacts to the coral reefs and other habitats, the cost of cleaning the microplastics, the accumulated bio impacts, ocean eutrophication, restoration costs, and the cost of solid waste management are being factored in and considered. MEPA Chairperson Dharshani Lahandapura said that the ship is currently in the hands of a caretaker company that will monitor the wreckage of the ship under a caretaker agreement with the ship’s owner until the wreckage can be moved. Experts will be sent by the owners soon to assess future actions with regard to the wreckage. The MV X-Press Pearl ship caught fire on 20 May approximately nine nautical miles away from the Colombo Harbour, after having anchored there a few hours prior to the fire. A subsequent explosion on 24 May led to the fire spreading and a number of containers aboard it falling into the sea, thus releasing pollutants including plastic pellets into the water. Since then, debris and deceased marine life have washed up on the country’s western coastline, heavily affecting both the fisheries industry and the country’s marine environment.


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