By Jon Lamb
PERTH — It will be some time before an accurate assessment can be made of the long-term effects of the oil spill in the Jurien Bay area of Western Australia. It is certain, though, that the spill poses a serious threat to the fragile balance of the ecosystem and the many local industries existing here.
The stretch of coastline 200 km north of Perth between Wedge Island and Jurien includes national parks and numerous wildlife sanctuaries, dotted with small islands, reefs and rocky outcrops. These sites are important breeding and nesting grounds for a wide range of wildlife, including colonies of sea birds, sea lions, fish, crustaceans and other marine life.
Several species of animals found here are rare and endangered. The Australian sea lion, which lives and breeds along this part of the coast, is considered one of the rarest of sea mammals.
Humpback whales also pass through this water on their migratory route north, and there are concerns over the accumulation of oil toxins in such mammals at the top of the food chain. (A significant proportion of whale beachings involve whales with a high level of heavy metals in their bodies.)
The abundance of marine life supports a thriving fishing industry which involves some 700 family businesses in the region. The crayfishing alone is worth up to $200 million in exports and, along with tourism, is the major source of income for people in the area. (The Abrolhos Islands north of here produce 10 to 15 times more crayfish than anywhere else in the world.)
There are grave concerns over the effect the oil spill will have on the industry. At this time of the year, large proportions of crayfish are going through the larval stage of their life cycle and are most vulnerable to environmental changes and pollution.
Local residents and environmentalists are angry over the circumstances which allowed this accident to happen. The fishing industry and West Australian Conservation Council have called for a 50 km zone outwards from the coast to be free of shipping, and for tighter controls on vessels to ensure that they are seaworthy.
Rachel Sierwart, coordinator for the council, also told Green Left that, with the increase in oil exploration all along the coast, there exists a much higher potential for similar accidents. It was necessary to upgrade emergency facilities to deal with such situations.
"It is unacceptable that most of the emergency equipment is
based in Melbourne ... WA has seen two major oil spills in five months, and it is time industry and the government took the threat of an oil disaster seriously."
Authorities claim that the main oil slick has dissipated and no longer poses any danger to the coast. Greenpeace has warned otherwise.
"The West Australian authorities claim there is no longer anything to fear. They seem to be accepting the notion: 'If you can't see it, it doesn't exist'", said Greenpeace spokesperson Michelle Grosvenor. "Do the authorities really believe the public is that naive?"