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