Footage of an oil spill along the shores of the state of Falcón, Venezuela, began to appear on social media at the beginning of the month. The situation represents a serious threat to the biodiversity and coastal economies of the region.
Authorities have not informed on the exact cause or source of the spill, but attention has been drawn to the El Palito refinery of PDVSA, which operates near the accident site. What we do know is that the spill has affected over 15 km of the coastline, and spread into the Morrocoy National Park. Morrocoy, which is made up of several keys and islands, is one of the biggest tourism centers of the country and home to countless mangroves, reefs, and marine life. The fishing sector is one of the main sources of income for many of its inhabitants.
“All of this is a serious problem and evidence that an ecocide is occurring in the Morrocoy National Park. Mangrove vegetation can die from direct poisoning. Chemical compounds that in turn tend to form emulsions with water are difficult to remove,” Fundación Azul Ambientalistas general director, Gustavo Carrasquel, told El Diario.
The hydrocarbons released into the water adhere to the gills of fish, affecting their respiration. They also stick to algae and phytoplankton, thereby affecting all aquatic life in the surrounding area. Biologists have assured the imminent death of over one hundred species of invertebrates and algae, Carrasquel lamented.
Additionally, specialists are having a difficult time quantifying the damage because, due to quarantine restrictions and lack of gasoline in the country, they cannot get to the affected area. Carrasquel explained that coordinator Victoria González is the only one present at the site. González, in an excursion at the onset of the crisis, was able to photographically document some of the effects of the spill.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. On February 4th of 2012, a pipe burst in the Jusepin Plant in Maturín, Monagas state. The spill paralyzed the operations of the city’s water treatment facilities and left residents without water for more than two months. PDVSA never confirmed the amount of oil spilled, but the Network of Medical Scientific Society estimated at least 64,000 barrels of oil. On July 6th of 2018, a second spill was reported in the same region, and again affected the water supply for residents of Maturín.
Lake Maracaibo, in the state of Zulia, has suffered oil spills for 25 years. The situation has never been rectified, and oil has reached residential and commercial areas in the region and caused overflowing in the lake.
As for what can be done to halt the damages, Carrasquel explained the measures that could be taken, but pointed out the lack of responsibility of governmental entities in addressing the problem.
“It requires constancy, responsibility, technical advice, implementation of a medium-term technology to carry out the bioremediation process. I see difficulty in this happening. The oil industry has shown great failure in its own infrastructural maintenance,” he said.
He explained that a contingency plan must be activated to coordinate with environmentalists and specialists in the oil industry. He demanded that the oil industry report on the origin of the spill, the type of oil and its volume in order to determine the specific actions and products that should be implemented to clean the beaches. Additionally, he called for PDVSA to develop a transparent evaluation plan where marine biology experts and environmentalists can participate, monitor and restore the affected ecosystems.
Meanwhile, the environment, tourism, and the inhabitants of the region will continue to suffer through the consequences.
Photo: Fundación Azul Ambientalistas