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Oil Tanker Spill In Tokyo Bay Threatens Endangered Birds

Marine Pollution


Oil Spill In Tokyo Bay Smaller, But Still Dangerous To Wildlife

fishing boat July 3rd, 1997

GLAND, Switzerland--The oil slick from the super tanker Diamond Grace that ran aground yesterday in Tokyo Bay is smaller in volume than earlier reported, but is still a danger to wildlife in tidal flats surrounding the bay, WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature said today.

"The slick is about one-tenth the size of its reported size, but it's still toxic, and its still drifting toward highly sensitive tidal flats," said WWF-Japan wetlands officer Tobai Sadayosi. "This is not kitchen oil. This is toxic crude oil that's going to damage ecosystems regardless of the quantity."

The spill ranks as the fifth worst shipping accident in Japan's history, Tobai added.

Two tidal flats areas are in immediate danger: Yatsu Tidal Flats and the Sambanze tidal flats adjacent to metropolitan Tokyo, near the deepest region of the bay, according to the world's largest conservation group. The Sambanze flats are noted conservation areas of international importance, home to the endangered Little Tern bird, and approximately 1,500 cormorants. The site harbours at least 50,000 Greater Scaup ducks in winter months.

Mr Tobai said that Black-headed gull in Tokyo Bay are already showing the effects of the spill, with traces of oil compounds found in their feathers. Mr. Tobai will travel today to Obitsu tidal flats on the eastern shore of the bay to asses mortality and contamination rates of birds in the area.

The single-hulled Diamond Grace tanker, owned by Nippon Yusen KK oil transport company, grounded on a reef yesterday morning, rupturing its hull and spilling 1,315 tonnes of its approximately 257,000 tonnes of crude oil cargo into Tokyo Bay. The spill happened about 6 km southeast of Honmoku pier at Yokohama, adjacent to Tokyo. As of the latest reports, the slick covers and area 10 km by 13 km.

WWF-Japan specialists are currently working with the Wild Bird Society of Japan and other wildlife NGOs to determine a plan of action to reduce the impact of the spill on the wetlands and tidal flats ecosystems. WWF-Japan plans to carry out an emergency survey of the cormorant and Little Tern populations. It is also working with Japan's Wildlife Rescue Veterinarian Association which will be attempting to capture and save any wildlife soiled by the slick.

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For more information contact: Elizabeth Foley, WWF-International, +41-22-364-9554, efoley@wwfnet.org

WWF is known as World Wildlife Fund in Canada and the United States of America