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Friday, June 01, 2001
Oil Spill Update
By Robert Bensted-Smith, Director, Charles Darwin Research Station
Wildland Adventures was one of the first members of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA) to donate funds urgently needed to supply materials and volunteers for the clean-up. Joannah Barry, director of the Charles Darwin Foundation in Washington, DC, wrote, "Although you will be hearing formally from us, I did want to take a moment to tell you how much we appreciate your excellent work and the important contributions to what has been a terrible chapter in Galapagos history. Your concern is so very appreciated, and your partnership during this difficult time is heartwarming."
When the oil spill disaster struck the Galapagos Islands in mid-January, 2001, the world held its breath. Would this be another horrifying example of a fragile eco-system destroyed by the careless actions of man? At first, no one seemed to know just how bad things were, or could be. So we turned to our trusted scientific colleagues based at the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos who were actively involved in the clean-up and could provide accurate updates to our travelers headed south to Ecuador. Fortunately, due to the swift action of cleanup experts and international conservation organizations, impact to wildlife and the island environment was minimized. Recent travelers have reported no disruption of local services and none witnessed any evidence of injured animals.
Robert Bensted-Smith, Director of the Charles Darwin Research Station, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos recently reports the following:
I am writing in response to the request for an assessment of the status of the tourism resources of the Galapagos Islands, following the recent oil spill. The work of assessing the level of shoreline contamination and evaluation of ecological impacts is still in progress. However, I can say with some confidence that the effects of the spill on the wildlife populations of Galapagos have been slight, albeit quite widespread around the archipelago. It is unlikely that a regular Galapagos visitor would notice any trace or impacts of the spill. Despite the accident, the Galapagos National Park and Marine Reserve still comprise one of the most pristine island ecosystems on the planet.
Right now the Galapagos National Park Service and Charles Darwin Research Station are undertaking an assessment of the levels of contamination around the coastlines of all the affected islands. Where significant amounts of oil are found, they are being cleaned up. Scientists will study contaminated and uncontaminated sites, as well as species considered to be at risk, in order to evaluate the impacts of the spill. It is likely that there will be impacts in some sites and some wildlife populations. Whilst a few may be significant, the overall picture is one of scattered, minor impacts. Indeed, it may be difficult to measure the impacts relative to the marked natural fluctuations in the Galapagos marine and coastal ecosystem between different seasons and locations. We expect to keep monitoring selected sites and species over a couple of years, to make sure that there is full recovery, with no unforeseen medium-term effects. At the same time there is a need for a range of measures to prevent and prepare for emergencies of various kinds - we must heed the wake-up call!
Given the quantity of fuel spilled, the impacts could have been far worse. Galapagos wildlife appears to have had a lucky escape, mainly as a result of the currents and winds, which carried the diesel and bunker fuel away from San Cristbal Island, where the Jessica ran aground, into deeper, offshore waters. There the bunker fuel tended to disperse, whilst the diesel steadily evaporated in the intense sunshine, before reaching the shores of the other islands. Good luck with the weather was complemented by dedicated, hard work - the Galapagos National Park Service led a determined, community-wide effort to keep the bunker fuel off the beaches and rocky coasts. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the tour operators for their tremendous support to the conservation institutions during this emergency. Funds, logistical support, materials and people were all provided rapidly. It was an invaluable contribution to the local response, that helped to minimise environmental impacts.
I am optimistic that the scientific evaluation will confirm the impression that the wildlife of Galapagos has come through this serious threat relatively unscathed. Of course, there are many other conservation challenges to face, if we are to preserve the Galapagos Islands with all their current wealth of marine and terrestrial biodiversity - introduced alien species and fisheries management problems are two that stand out. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the tourism sector to address these and other issues, for the conservation of this unique and wonderful archipelago.
For additional up-to-date and in-depth information about conservation and management of the Galapagos Islands see the article in an early 2001 issue of Audubon Magazine:
Galpagos Now
From fishing fights to a terrible fuel spill, the recent news from the Galapagos has not been good. Still, argues one reporter who recently returned from the islands, this magical archipelago is holding its own.
