Oil pollution hits UAE shores again

The UAE’s eastern shores have again been hit by oil pollution caused by persistent dumping of crude and sludge by tankers and other vessels plying the Gulf water in violation of local and international laws. The pollution killed a large quantity of fish in the water before washing ashore and damaging fishing nets in Kalba, Alkhaleej Arabic language daily said. The pollution hit the fishing harbours in north and south of Kalba, forcing fishermen in that area to suspect their activity. “We received a report yesterday about the presence of oil tars on Kalba beaches…we sent a team to clean up the slick which was spread on a large beach strip….the operation is still under way,” the paper said, quoting Ahmed Al Houra, director of Kalba Municipality. Other eastern areas have been affected by oil pollution over the past few weeks, including Dibba Fujeirah, according to officials. The UAE has often warned tankers and other vessels against dumping crude residuals and sludge in the Gulf water after cleaning their tanks on their way into or out of the oil-rich region. But officials have spoken of persistent violations by those vessels although they have been provided with special cleaning facilities at Fujeirah port. A recent report by the United Nations described the Gulf as the most polluted region in the world because of sludge-dumping by tankers, recurrent leakage incidents at oil terminals and pipelines, and massive spills caused by military attacks during conflicts in the area.