Portland International harming coral reefs and polluting the island of Curaçao

Reference   :  Norbert George

Telephone   :  +599 (9) 521 6208

Date             :  12 July 2004

Press release

Portland International harming coral reefs and polluting the island of Curaçao

“This is an outrage and violation of both local and international regulations. We request Portland International to respond to responsibility and reconsider its plans to undertake activities that will imply a pollution of our marine habitat. No one has been informed about these plans upfront. Just 50 meters away there is a commercial beach, marketed as an eco-initiative and diving destination famous for its tug boat site. It is one of the best preserved parts of Curacao. The local authorities have failed to consider environmental regulations and the involved risks for tourists. Neither tourists nor divers are being informed about the dangers in relation to these kinds of industrial activities and spills of toxic pollutants into the Caracas Bay and our ocean. We have been informed that the oil platform will be attached to a chain that is known to damage the coral reef”, says Norbert George of the Humane Care Foundation Curaçao.

The oil platform Pride Portland will be entering the protected and natural conservation area of Caracas Bay today at 08.00 hours. The platform is about 100 meters high and weighs 12,000 tons. The Pride Portland has departed from Portland (USA) on the 26^th of June. It is owned by Portland International from Texas and is registered in Nassau, Bahamas.

Photo: the oil platform Pride Portland awaiting offshore before entering the Caracas Bay

The coral reef of Curaçao is beautiful. In fact it is one of the most beautiful of the Caribbean, with a higher coral cover percentage than in many other places. Regretfully, like everywhere in the world, the coral reef is in decline. Diseases are evident everywhere, Staghorn coral and Elkhorn coral (Acropora) were the first to go in the early 1980's, only remnants can be found now of these once most numerous corals of our reef. Also in the early eighties, a massive die-off of Long-spined Sea Urchins (Diadema antillarum) occurred, again caused by a disease. But what is the source of all these ‘diseases’? All these disturbing signs gave rise to international concern. Among others it led to the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) which seeks to coordinate research and to raise public awareness and support for the coral reefs of the world. Locally an NGO called Reef Care Curaçao was founded, dedicated to the protection of the Curaçao coral reef.

Photo: Caracas Bay area

Since the 1970's an underwater park was established in Curaçao, managed by the CARMABI Foundation, which also runs a research institute where coral reef research is conducted, mainly by the Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) in cooperation with the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Yet, the excessive toxic pollution of the ocean seems to go on.

In 2003, the people of Curaçao organized a grassroots campaign called the Humane Care Foundation Curaçao, with the objective to safeguard human rights, the rights of the child, public health and the environment. The vital habitats and natural resources on the island have sustained significant toxic damage that affects more then 12,5 % of the population, including more then 5,500 children. Central to the campaign is obtaining redress for environmental devastation.

Norbert George: “It is often exclaimed that no one knows exactly why all the diseases and afflictions of the coral reef all over the south side of our island are happening. Although many theories exist, ranging from global warming to natural cyclic decline, from Saharan dust to land based sources of pollution; we only know for sure that toxic pollution is the main source of stress in relation to the coral reefs in the waters of Curaçao. This has been concluded by biologists, who have warned about the devastating effect on the natural resistance of Coral Reefs and other marine life.”

A local website promotes Caracas Bay as:

-One of the best snorkel-area’s of the South Caribbean.
-Outdoor adventure by mountain bike, horse riding, or by walking, across historical buildings and beautiful viewpoints.
-A relaxing day for the whole family on the tropical beach, and our sunny terrace.

Other areas on the island that are being polluted excessively with toxic materials are the Spanish Waterlake, Bullen Bay, Valentijn Bay and Busca Bay. The sea needs to remain clean and clear, no silt and sedimentation from coastal development, no nutrient pollution from wastewater dumped into the ocean, or cesspits and septic tanks leaching into the groundwater. And of course divers need to be cautious and avoid touching the corals or kicking up sediment.

“We call upon the international community for its support in our efforts to safeguard the ocean and its habitat. If we do not stand up for its protection and right of existence, then who will?”