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Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)

Update on the Jessica II fuel spill: 29 Jan 2001

PRESS RELEASE 10

The Galapagos National Park continues mitigation actions to counteract the fuel spill produced when the tanker Jessica ran aground on San Cristobal Island some days ago.

In Floreana work has continued throughout the day. The last traces of fuel in the zone close to Perros Beach had been cleaned up by midday. Two frigate birds and two rays were found dead and some oiled marine iguanas were treated on the spot. The fuel spill in the area of Perros Beach was basically pure bunker fuel. The fuel was recovered thanks to the hard work of the local population, park rangers from the Floreana National Park technical office and Puerto Velasco Ibarra's Port Captain Authority. The Galapagos National Park boat Sirenian, will stay in Floreana to continue helping. Another small slick has been seen in an area close to Perros Beach, and work equipment was relocated to this site. Clean up operations will proceed and then the Sirenian and the Virgen del Rocío will make monitoring runs along the coast of Floreana to determine if any other coastal zone has been affected by the fuel.

Reports from Isabela indicate that the fuel in the area around Puerto Villamil is basically under control and completely mitigated. There are no longer traces of fuel on the beach. There is a slick near Cabo Rosa on Isabela Island, where the Galapagos National Park patrol launch Guadalupe River is recovering fuel and placing absorbent material to prevent the slick reaching the coast. In this coastal area of Isabela Island so far there are no indications that the fuel has reached Quinta Beach.

Yesterday, Sunday January 28, the Guadalupe River monitored the southeastern zone of Isabela (Cuatro Hermanos) where they found a slick that they were concerned could be heading north and might affect the mangroves of Cartago Bay, including both Cartago Chico and Cartago Grande. A group of park rangers left Puerto Ayora, today 29, at 5am to place containing barriers in the area to prevent the fuel reaching the mangroves. However, after completely checking the area, they realized that there were no fuel slicks near Cartago Bay, so it wasn't necessary to install the barrier. However, monitoring and air patrols will continue.

In Cristobal, the fuel still leaking from the tanker is minimal. A group of technicians solicited by the National Park, are working together with the international technicians that have been in the port for several days. They are evaluating the situation of the tanker Jessica in San Cristobal.

Director
Galapagos National Park