An oil spill from a capsized barge near Tobago continues to spread across the Caribbean Sea, impacting local tourism and fishing industries while prompting regional cooperation to mitigate the disaster.
Nine days after Trinidad and Tobago’s Coast Guard first spotted the slick, the leak remains uncontrolled. The spill has extended miles from Tobago’s shore, initially affected by the incident, and is now threatening the coastlines of neighboring countries.
Trinidad has alerted Venezuela and Grenada about the potential impact on their shores. The Caribbean Disaster Management Agency, under the regional group Caricom, has activated a contingency plan to address the growing environmental crisis, according to Allan Stewart, head of Tobago’s Emergency Management Agency (TEMA).
The barge, pulled by a tugboat, was carrying up to 35,000 barrels of fuel oil when it capsized. Details about the incident, including the type of petroleum leaking, the ship’s intended destination, ownership, and the status of the crew, remain unclear.
By Thursday, authorities reported that the slick had reached approximately 144 kilometers into the Caribbean Sea and was moving at a rate of 14 kilometers per hour.
Local fishermen, like Edwin Ramkisson from Lowlands on Tobago’s Atlantic shore, are facing immediate challenges. “This looks like it will continue for a few weeks. I cannot simply sit down and do nothing,” Ramkisson said. “I need help cleaning my boat before moving to another port on the Caribbean side.”
The spill has blackened several of Tobago’s beaches, affecting wildlife and causing significant disruptions to the tourism sector. Beach and golf resorts that typically welcome foreign tourists have been forced to close access to the ocean. Protective measures such as containment booms are being employed to shield the Scarborough cruise ship port from contamination.
As the spill continues to expand, regional cooperation is intensifying to contain the environmental damage. The coordination among Caribbean nations highlights the shared responsibility and urgency in addressing environmental disasters that transcend national borders.
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Tobago's tourism, fishing hit as oil slick spreads across Caribbean
cgtn.com
