The Tobago Business Chamber says that a clean and environmentally safe Tobago is important to grow the tourism industry.
“The Tobago Business Chamber through its chairman Martin George, urges all citizens to use this disaster as a stark and urgent reminder of the fragility of our delicate ecosystems in this twin-island republic, and more so, the Tobago ecosystem, which is not only comprised of the beautiful Buccoo and Speyside reefs, but also the numerous beaches, bays and coves which are found all around the island, from the famous Pigeon Point beach to other lesser known gems such as Cotton Bay, Back Bay and Pirates Bay.”
In a statement to the Sunday Business Guardian, the Chamber added that Tobagonians also have to preserve and secure the island’s mangroves and rainforests because if Tobago is to live up to its tagline of “Clean, Green & Serene”, then environmental consciousness and preservation of the environment remain paramount, even as residents seek to develop the island’s tourism industry.
The spill occurred on February 7 off the southern shores of Tobago, according to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM). Initial statements indicated that about 15 kilometres of the coastline “is now blackened”.
In a news release last week, the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association said it is deeply concerned about the environmental impact and potential consequences for Tobago’s local communities and tourism industry.
The association said the oil spill has the potential to raise significant environmental and economic challenges for Tobago.
“As such, we are actively monitoring the situation. We must commend the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and other local authorities for their fast response and applaud their efforts to mitigate the effects that this oil spill can have on our ecosystem.
“We as an association also stand ready to collaborate with our local authorities, environmental agencies, and other stakeholders to address and mitigate the effects of this unfortunate incident. Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our community members, visitors, and the environment.”
According to the environmental website, ecowatch.com, oil spills can take many years to completely clean up. Often, several methods of clean up are employed at once. The type used depends on how much and what type of oil is spilled, where the oil has spilled and its distance from the shore, what species and habitats are being impacted, and whether people live in the area.
The Deepwater Horizon BP Oil Spill of 2010 remains the largest marine oil spill in US history, releasing 210 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. More than a decade after the disaster, many marine species in the area are still recovering.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is a department of the US Department of Commerce, there are thousands of very small oil spills in the US alone every year.
Cleaning up oil spills can also be very expensive. A report from Quartz news website showed that the oil spill off California’s coasts in 2015 was 101,000 gallons and cost roughly US$69 million to clean up.