The spill was first detected on October 23. Photos: Save the Waves
According to reports, on October 23, a fuel oil spill hit beaches in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico.The areas most impacted include Punta Conejo, Brasil, Salinas del Marqués and Azul beaches in Salina Cruz.
Local authorities said that the spill originated from a Pemex offshore platform. It’s a devastating ecological blow — the region’s ecosystem is a vulnerable one — and the implications are as far-reaching as the spill itself.
“We have confirmed reports that the crude has reached Playa La Bamba, 25 kilometers southwest from the spill source,” said Gino Passalacqua, Oceanographer and Scientific Advisor to Save The Waves. “Birds covered in oil were found in Bahías de Huatulco and Morro Ayuta, 105 km and 68 km away from the source of the spill. The exact volume of oil spilled and the impacted area remains unknown.”
The affected coastal ecosystems provide habitat for the many and varied species in the area. As well, they’re important for the fishermen who work in them. Surf tourism, too, provides an income to many of the residents.
Officials were first alerted to the spill by local fishermen, who noticed a foul smell in the water and saw that the sand was streaked with an oily substance. There is a Pemex refinery in the area. Rafael Ramírez, the Civil Protection chief for Salina Cruz, said that Playa Brasil was the worst affected beach. Pemex has been tasked with cleaning up the mess.
“We already told Pemex what’s happening and the request is for them to start cleaning the beaches immediately,” Ramírez said. “What happened is concerning and cleaning up is urgent.”
The cleanup won’t be an easy one, and beaches will be closed until it’s safe for them to open. The closures will affect not only fishermen, but many of the beachside businesses that rely on tourists. The cleanup is expected to take between one and six months and possibly longer, should the spill be larger than initially suspected.
