Author: Sal
Oil Spill Hits Island Wildlife
Wednesday, 23rd January, 2008 at 1:20 pm, Isle of Wight
Just heard on IW Radio of the mystery oil spill that has affected wildlife between Grange Chine and St Catherine’s Point.
According to the IW County Press, the Environment Agency, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the IW Council have been working together to find out the extent of the pollution and the source. As of yesterday, around 60 birds had died and some were being cleaned and cared for at the RSPCA centre in Sandford.
It’s thought that the oil may have come from the Ice Prince, which wrecked last week dropping a cargo of 2,000 tons of timber - some of which has washed up on the south coast of the Wight.
Anyone who finds dead or oil-covered birds or wildlife should contact the RSPCA on its emergency number, 0300 1234 999.
If you have any pics, do send them into us by emailing to ventnorblog(at)gmail(dot)com.
Environment, St Catherine's, West Wight, Wildlife
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January 23rd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Actually it’s not thought that the oil may have come from the Ice Prince - not by the IWC or the coastguard, anyway. It’s possible, but there’s no evidence of any link at present. Unfortunately such events do occur from time to time, especially in the winter.
Furthermore, the close scrutiny that the coast around the Ice Prince has been subject to makes it more likely that any such leak would have been spotted before it made landfall - which it was not. Tests are being undertaken, if there’s any link no doubt a statement will be made.
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:47 pm