Global News - November 2007

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Antarctic shipwreck puts penguins at risk

Thu 29 November 2007 13:15 UK — Birds,Other

Thousands of penguins and a number of other marine species are at risk from the fuel oil spill created by the sinking of cruise ship Explorer off the coast of Antarctica last week, experts have warned.

The Chilean navy has revealed that oil leaking from the stricken cruiser has contaminated a number of floating icebergs which are home to as many as 2,500 penguins, the Indo-Asian News Service reported.

While the navy confirmed it will attempt to mechanically clear the 1.5 kilometre oil slick caused by the boat's sinking, the country's government acknowledged the threat to the area's wildlife.

"This is a very worrisome situation for Chile's government, because the spill occurred in a place of great environmental importance for the whole planet," explained Ana Lya Uriarte, chairwoman of the National Environment Commission in a press release reported by the Santiago Times.

"This is a wake-up call for the tourism industry. We don't need floating fuel. We are now going to work to limit the flow of tourists, which in recent years has doubled: this summer 30,000 tourists are expected in the Antarctic," added Argentinean Environment Secretary Romani Picolotti.

Tourism in Antarctica has increased rapidly in the past fifteen years, with figures provided by the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators revealing 29,500 people visited the area in the 2006/07 season, compared to 6,700 in 1992/93.

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