Pollution risk on the rise

Increased cruise and commercial shipping in the Caribbean Sea have heightened the risk of intentional and accidental pollution there, according to Christopher Corbin, an official at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Corbin, who is UNDP's assessment of environment and marine pollution officer, said that though data from his organisation's Caribbean environment programme suggest that 70 per cent of the pollution of the marine environment comes from land-based sources, there is still a need to ensure that pollution from ships is minimised, as they have the potential to negatively impact the region's fragile coastal and marine ecosystems.

He said that the general response by the maritime sector to protect the Caribbean Sea over the last several years has been positive.

improvements in cruise shipping

Christopher Corbin

"We also have to appreciate that there have been improvements in cruise shipping so that more vessels have the capacity to handle their waste, especially garbage on board," he said. "There is a feeling, therefore, that more ships are compliant, but it is difficult to assess. One area where we can document some improvement has been the reduction and accidental discharges of oil."

In one of his recent reports on shipping in the Caribbean, entitled, Shipping - environmental saint or sinner?, Corbin, who also has responsibility for the UNEP's oil spills and land-based sources of marine pollution protocols in the Caribbean, noted that approximately 50,000 ships visit the region annually, resulting in its being among the most intensive marine-trafficked area in the world. He said the presence of major oil-producing and exporting countries and cargo transhipment points in Panama and Jamaica has also contributed to the density.

"The main damage from the cruise line industry occurs due to operations at sea and more specifically to the dumping of toxic substances and waste near fragile ecosystems, such as coral reefs and mangroves," the report stated. 'The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that in one week, a 3000-passenger cruise ship generates 210,000 gallons of 'black water' or raw sewage, one million gallons of 'grey water' and 37,000 gallons of bilge water, contaminated with invasive species and toxic wastes and emit exhaust equivalent to more than 12,000 cars daily and 20 litres of hazardous wastes, are generated each day."

challenging

"Regulating environmental pollution from shipping is especially challenging," the report added. "Pollution discharge can occur within the territorial waters of a single country, within the exclusive economic zone of that country or in open sea. A ship during a voyage could illegally discharge pollutants over several natural jurisdictions."

The report said future efforts to control pollution must involve a more integrated approach, involving both land and marine-based sources and activities.

"There must be close collaboration between maritime authorities, port operators, tourism agencies and environmental authorities," it noted. "The shipping sector stands well poised to be a greater advocate for encouraging the formal ratification and implementation of relevant regional, international and global environmental agreements and at the same time, lobby for improved local environmental management capacity. Ultimately, the protection of the Caribbean Sea is not just about environmental conservation and marine protection, it also makes good business sense."