MEDIA RELEASE: Marine Fuel Spill Incident in Placentia Bay
February 11, 2022
MEDIA RELEASE: Marine Fuel Spill Incident in Placentia Bay
February 11, 2022
Yesterday evening, a fuel spill incident occurred when Dutch vessel M/V ALASKABORG unknowingly released heavy fuel while sailing near the mouth of Placentia Bay along the south coast of Newfoundland. The vessel reported the event to the Canadian Coast Guard, who in turn notified the fishing industry of the event.
“Thankfully this time of year is a period of low activity for fishing, however if this event happened in April or May, it could have had a very different outcome,” says FFAW-Unifor President Keith Sullivan. “The regular occurrence of these events highlights the very real threat to those whose livelihoods rely on a healthy marine environment.”
Following notification of the event, evaluation and clean-up efforts were initiated through the Eastern Canada Response Corporation (ECRC) and Transport Canada is undertaking an aerial assessment.
“Industrial users of the highly trafficked Placentia Bay have repeatedly shown little regard for the fishing industry. FFAW-Unifor continues to be concerned with the environmental effects of industrial spills such as this on the marine environment,” Sullivan says.
The Union continues to monitor the situation and will update fish harvesters as required.
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For media inquiries, please contact Courtney Glode at 709-743-4445 or cglode@ffaw.ca