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Call for oil response cooperation
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Over the weekend Gibraltar was heavily affected by the oil spill caused by the Ropax One in Spain.
It is important when either bad weather or human error contributes to an oil spill in the Bay for there to be a better system of cooperation between Gibraltar and Spanish authorities to address the consequences of any spill. That makes both environmental and economic sense, says PDP.
It is important to protect our marine life, coastlines and natural habitats and it is also important to preserve our economic pillars on the most environmentally sustainable basis possible.
?Bad weather conditions have always been prevalent in the bay area. An increase in traffic in the bay directly raises the risks of accidents leading to oil spills? said environment spokesman Dr. Gavin Gafan.
With only several months having transpired since the Fedra incident it is important to reflect on whether these risks are being treated with the urgency they deserve.
?Gibraltar has been lucky, for the lack of a better word, that such an accident to date has not involved a petrol tanker. A major oil spill would have catastrophic economic and environmental effects on Gibraltar and the Bay of Gibraltar? he said.
The PDP says they would urge that Government ensures in discussions with Spain that a set of working protocols are developed to ensure that risks are minimised, there is more preparedness and better resources and coordination to deal with these risks.
?An enlargement in the port of Algeciras coupled with ever increasing traffic in the bay and an inability by
Government to learn from previous incidents merely heightens the risk that incidents will re-occur and that consequences are not dealt with adequately. In that context Gibraltar should ensure that after a process of formal and constructive discussions an oil pollution response cooperation agreement emerges to make sure that the risks from incidents at sea are minimised and more resources are provided to deal with any consequences.?
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